HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from: to .

Commission file number: 1-13754

THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(508) 855-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

NONE

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Based on the closing sales price of June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $5,167,007,381.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value, was 35,604,942 shares as of February 21, 2023.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

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PART I

ITEM 1 — BUSINESS

ORGANIZATION

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (“THG”) is a holding company organized as a Delaware corporation in 1995. We trace our roots to as early as 1852, when The Hanover Fire Insurance Company was founded. Our primary business operations are property and casualty insurance products and services. We market our products and services through independent agents and brokers in the United States (“U.S.”). Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of THG; The Hanover Insurance Company (“Hanover Insurance”) and Citizens Insurance Company of America (“Citizens”), which are our principal property and casualty subsidiaries; and other insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries. Our results of operations also include the results of our discontinued operations, consisting primarily of our former accident and health insurance business.

INFORMATION ABOUT OPERATING SEGMENTS

GENERAL

We conduct our business operations through four operating segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other. Interest expense related to our corporate debt is reported separately from the earnings of these operating segments. In our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments, we underwrite our insurance products through Hanover Insurance, Citizens and other THG subsidiaries. We distribute them through select independent agents and brokers throughout the U.S. Our Other segment is comprised primarily of business from Opus Investment Management, Inc. ("Opus") and earnings and expenses related to our holding company. During the first quarter of 2022, we disaggregated our former Commercial Lines segment into Core Commercial and Specialty segments. Prior periods reflect this new presentation. This presentation is consistent with the manner in which our chief operating decision maker evaluates results in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

Our agency and customer-centric strategy focuses on providing specialized insurance products and services with an emphasis on disciplined underwriting and pricing, quality claims handling and customer service. We continue to prudently grow and diversify our product offerings and geographic business mix to strengthen our position as one of the top property and casualty insurers focused on the independent agency distribution channel in the U.S. In 2022, we generated approximately $5.5 billion in net premiums written, an increase of 9.7% from the prior year.

Information with respect to each of our segments is included in "Results of Operations - Segments" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("Management's Discussion and Analysis") and in Note 12 - "Segment Information" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

RISKS

The industry’s and our profitability are significantly affected by numerous factors, including price; competition; volatile and unpredictable developments, such as weather conditions, catastrophes and other disasters; legal and regulatory developments affecting pricing, underwriting, policy coverage and other aspects of doing business, as well as insurer and insureds’ liability; extra-contractual liability; attorney involvement in claims matters; size of jury awards; civil unrest; acts of terrorism; fluctuations in interest rates and the value of investments; and other general economic conditions and trends, such as potential recessionary pressures and inflationary pressure or unemployment, that may affect the adequacy of reserves or the demand for insurance products. Our investment portfolio and its future returns are impacted by the capital markets and current economic conditions, which affect our liquidity, realized losses and impairments, credit default levels, our ability to hold such investments until recovery and other factors. Additionally, the economic conditions in geographic locations where we conduct business, especially those locations where our business is concentrated, affect the growth and profitability of our business. The regulatory environments in those locations, including any pricing, underwriting or product controls, shared market mechanisms or mandatory pooling arrangements, and other conditions, such as our agency relationships, affect the growth and profitability of our business. Our loss and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) reserves are based on estimates, principally involving case assessments and actuarial projections, at a given time, of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of claims will cost based on facts and circumstances then known, predictions of future events, estimates of future trends in claims frequency and severity and judicial theories of liability, costs of repairs and replacement, legislative activity and other factors. We regularly reassess our estimate of loss reserves and LAE, both for current and past years, and resulting changes have and will affect our reported profitability and financial position.

Persistent supply chain disruptions emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic (“Pandemic”) and significant inflation in the U.S. economy, along with other factors outside our control, have resulted in higher claims costs, particularly in our automobile and homeowners lines of business. Additionally, several other Pandemic uncertainties persist, including evolving driving patterns and court caseload backlogs. The severity, duration and long-term effects of such uncertainties described above may, however, affect the property and casualty insurance industry, our business, and our financial results over the intermediate and long-term.

Reference is also made to “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A.

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LINES OF BUSINESS

Core Commercial

Our Core Commercial segment generated $2.1 billion, or 37.5%, of consolidated operating revenues and $2.0 billion, or 36.5%, of net premiums written, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The following table provides net premiums written by line of business for our Core Commercial segment.

We divide Core Commercial into two distinct businesses, small commercial and middle market, both of which focus on account business.

Our Core Commercial product suite provides agents and customers with products designed for small and mid-sized businesses. Small commercial offerings, which generally include annual premiums of $50,000 or less, deliver value through product expertise, local presence and ease of doing business. Middle market accounts, with annual premiums generally in the range of $50,000 to $500,000, require greater underwriting and claim expertise, as well as a focus on industry segments.

Core Commercial coverages include:

Commercial multiple peril coverage insures businesses against third-party general liability from accidents occurring on their premises or arising out of their operations, such as injuries sustained from products sold. It also insures business property for damage, such as that caused by fire, wind, hail, water damage (which may include flood), theft and vandalism.

Workers’ compensation coverage insures employers against employee medical and indemnity claims resulting from injuries related to work. Workers’ compensation policies are often written in conjunction with other commercial policies.

Commercial automobile coverage insures businesses against losses incurred from personal bodily injury, bodily injury to third parties, property damage to an insured’s vehicle and property damage to other vehicles and property. Commercial automobile policies are often written in conjunction with other commercial policies.

Other core commercial coverage includes monoline general liability, commercial umbrella and monoline property.

Our strategy in Core Commercial is focused on strengthening and expanding our market reach through differentiated product offerings, industry segmentation, and franchise value through selective distribution. We continue to make enhancements to our products and technology platforms that are intended to drive more account placements in our small commercial and middle market businesses. In small commercial, we have gained significant momentum with the launch of TAP Sales, our new agent quote-and-issue platform, making it easier and more efficient for our agents to do business with us, leveraging our agency analytics capabilities, comprehensive service center offering, and full suite of digital self-service tools. In middle market, we maintained our focus on specialized industry segments, a key area of market differentiation. We continued to grow our most profitable industry segments, including technology, human services and financial institutions, taking a measured approach in more challenging segments. We also capitalized on the strength of our localized field structure, creating a competitive advantage in sourcing new business, as well as our robust claims and risk management capabilities.

We believe our small commercial capabilities and distinctiveness in the middle market, including our diversified portfolio of products, enable us to deliver significant value to our agents and policyholders. We believe these efforts will enable us to continue to improve the overall mix of our business and ultimately our underwriting profitability.

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Specialty

Our Specialty segment generated $1.3 billion, or 22.5%, of consolidated operating revenues and $1.2 billion, or 22.7%, of net premiums written, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The following table provides net premiums written by line of business for our Specialty segment.

Specialty offers a comprehensive suite of products focused predominately on small to mid-sized businesses. This includes numerous specialized products that are organized into four distinct divisions:

Professional and Executive Lines coverage is primarily composed of professional, management, and medical liability, which provides protection for directors, officers and other employees of companies that may be sued in connection with their performance, and errors and omissions protection to companies and individuals against negligence or bad faith, as well as protection for employment practices liability.

Specialty Property & Casualty is comprised of:

Marine coverage includes inland and ocean marine, and insures businesses against physical losses to property, such as contractor’s equipment, builders’ risk and goods in transit, and also covers jewelers block, fine art and other valuables.

Surety and Other includes coverage for construction and other firms, as well as sole proprietors in the event of claims for non-performance or non-payment, and commercial surety coverage related to fiduciary or regulatory obligations.

We have continued to invest in our Specialty businesses, refining our broad product offering, focusing on the lower end of the risk and account-sized spectrum, leveraging our highly regarded service center, which has been, and we expect will continue to be, a critical growth lever for us. We have successfully developed a robust, diversified and profitable Specialty segment that we believe represents a distinct competitive advantage, with eight dedicated businesses and 17 distinct product areas.

We believe that this distribution of Specialty products, primarily through retail agents supplemented by select specialists helps to enhance our overall agent value and increase growth opportunities by providing agents easier access to placement solutions for Specialty needs, including those that complement Core Commercial accounts.

Personal Lines

Our Personal Lines segment generated $2.2 billion, or 39.7%, of consolidated operating revenues and $2.2 billion, or 40.8%, of net premiums written, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The following table provides net premiums written by line of business for our Personal Lines segment.

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Personal Lines coverages include:

Personal automobile coverage insures individuals against losses incurred from personal bodily injury, bodily injury to third parties, property damage to an insured’s vehicle, and property damage to other vehicles and other property.

Homeowners and other personal lines coverages insure individuals for losses related to:

Our strategy in Personal Lines is to provide account–oriented business (i.e., writing both an insured’s automobile and homeowners insurance, along with other Personal Lines coverages when applicable) through select independent agents, with a focus on increasing geographic diversification. The market for our Personal Lines business is very competitive, with continued pressure on independent agents from direct insurance writers, as well as from the increased usage of real time comparative rating tools and increasingly sophisticated rating and pricing tools. We maintain a focus on working with high quality, value-added agents that stress the importance of consultative selling and account rounding (the conversion of single policy customers to accounts with multiple policies and/or additional coverages, to address customers’ broader objectives). We are focused on making business investments that are intended to help us maintain profitability, build a distinctive position in the market, deliver value to agents and customers, and provide us with profitable growth opportunities. We continue to refine our products and to work closely with these high-potential agents to increase the percentage of business they place with us and to ensure that it is consistent with our preferred mix of business. Additionally, we remain focused on further diversifying our geographic mix beyond our largest historical core states of Michigan and Massachusetts. We expect these efforts to decrease our risk concentrations and our dependency on these states, as well as to contribute to improved profitability over time.

Other

The Other segment primarily includes Opus, which provides investment advisory services to affiliates and also manages approximately $2.0 billion of assets for unaffiliated institutions, such as insurance companies, retirement plans and foundations. The Other segment also includes earnings on holding company assets; holding company and other expenses, including certain costs associated with retirement benefits due to former life insurance employees and agents; our run-off voluntary property and casualty pools business; and our run-off direct asbestos and environmental business.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

We serve a variety of standard, specialty and targeted industry markets. Consistent with our objective to diversify our underwriting risks on a geographic and line of business basis, our business is currently comprised of approximately 41% Personal Lines, 36% Core Commercial, and 23% Specialty. Core Commercial, including our small and middle market businesses, Personal Lines and the majority of our Specialty business distribute our products primarily through a network of independent agents.

Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines

Our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines independent agency distribution and field structure are designed to maintain a strong focus on local markets and the flexibility to respond to specific market conditions. During 2022, we wrote 19.7% of our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines business in Michigan and 8.6% in Massachusetts. Our localized field management structure is a key factor in the establishment and maintenance of productive, long-term relationships with well-established independent agencies. We maintain 35 local offices across 23 states. The majority of processing support for these locations is provided from our Worcester, Massachusetts; Howell, Michigan; Salem, Virginia; and Windsor, Connecticut offices.

Independent agents account for substantially all of the sales of our Core Commercial and Personal Lines property and casualty products, and the majority of our Specialty products. However, some Specialty business, such as Hanover Programs, is also distributed through managing general agents or wholesale distributors who have expertise in the industries served or products offered. We appoint agencies based on profitability, track record, financial stability, growth potential, professionalism and business strategy. Once appointed, we monitor their performance and, subject to legal and regulatory requirements, may take actions as necessary to change these business relationships, such as discontinuing the authority of the agent to underwrite certain products, or revising commissions or bonus opportunities. We compensate agents primarily through base commissions and bonus plans that are tied to an agency’s written premium, growth and profitability.

We are licensed to sell property and casualty insurance in all fifty states in the U.S., as well as in the District of Columbia (“D.C.”). Throughout the U.S., we actively market Core Commercial and Specialty policies in 40 states and D.C., and Personal Lines policies in 20 states.

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The following table provides our top Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines geographical markets based on total net premiums written in each state in 2022.

We manage our Core Commercial and Specialty business portfolio with a focus on growth from the most profitable industry segments within our underwriting expertise. Our Core Commercial business is generally comprised of several complementary commercial lines of business, consisting of small and middle market accounts, which include targeted industry segments. Additionally, in our Specialty segment, we have multiple specialty lines of business. We seek to maintain strong agency relationships as an approach to secure and retain our agents’ best accounts. We monitor the quality of our business written through ongoing quality reviews, accountability for which is shared at the local, regional and corporate levels.

We manage our Personal Lines business with a focus on acquiring and retaining preferred accounts. Currently, approximately 88% of our policies in force are account business. Approximately 53% of our Personal Lines net premiums written is generated in the combined states of Michigan and Massachusetts. In Michigan, based upon direct premiums written for 2022, we underwrite approximately 7% of the state’s total market.

Approximately 64% of our Michigan Personal Lines net premium written is in the personal automobile line and 33% is in the homeowners line. Michigan business represents approximately 45% of our total personal automobile net premiums written and approximately 37% of our total homeowners net premiums written. In Michigan, we are a principal market for many of our appointed agencies, with approximately $2.3 million of total direct premiums written, per agency, in 2022.

In addition, in 2019, Michigan enacted major reforms of its system governing personal and commercial automobile insurance, especially related to automobile Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) coverage. We believe that we are effectively executing the transition to the reformed system and expect to navigate this market successfully. As of December 31, 2022, the net impact of these reforms was not significant to our total net premiums written and underwriting profit. For the full year 2022, net premiums written that were attributable to PIP coverage in Michigan were $141.6 million, or 2.6% of our total company full year 2022 net premiums written, while Michigan personal automobile net premiums written represented 10.7% of our total company full year 2022 net premiums written. See also “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A.

Approximately 65% of our Massachusetts Personal Lines net premium written is in the personal automobile line and 31% is in the homeowners line. Massachusetts business represents approximately 13% of our total personal automobile net premiums written and approximately 10% of our total homeowners net premiums written.

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We sponsor local and national agent advisory councils to gain the benefit of our agents’ insight and enhance our relationships. These councils and our other strong agency relationships provide market and operational feedback, input on the development of products and services, guidance on marketing efforts, support for our strategies, and assist us in enhancing our local market presence.

Other

With respect to our Other segment, we market our third-party investment advisory services directly through Opus.

PRICING AND COMPETITION

The property and casualty insurance industry is a very competitive market. In our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments, we market and distribute through independent agents and brokers, and compete for business on the basis of product, price, agency and customer service, local relationships, ratings and effective claims handling, among other things. Our competitors include national, international, regional and local companies that sell insurance through various distribution channels, including independent agencies, captive agency forces, brokers, and direct to consumers through the internet or otherwise. They also include mutual insurance companies, reciprocals and exchanges. We believe that our emphasis on maintaining strong agency relationships and a local presence in our markets, coupled with investments in products, operating efficiency, technology and effective claims handling, enable us to differentiate ourselves and compete more effectively. Our broad product offerings in Core Commercial and Specialty and total account strategy in Personal Lines are instrumental to our ability to capitalize on these relationships and improve profitability.

We seek to achieve targeted combined ratios in each of our product lines. Targets vary by product and geography and change with market conditions. The targeted combined ratios reflect competitive market conditions, investment yield expectations, our loss payout patterns and target returns on equity. This approach is intended to enable us to achieve measured growth and consistent profitability.

For all major product lines in the Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments, we employ pricing teams that produce exposure and experience-based rating models, some of which require regulatory approval, to support underwriting and pricing decisions. In addition, we seek to utilize our understanding of local markets to achieve superior underwriting results. We rely on market information provided by our local agents and on the knowledge of staff in the local branch offices. Since we maintain a strong local presence in many regions and a significant market share in a number of states, we can better apply our knowledge and experience in making underwriting and rate setting decisions. Also, we seek to gather objective and verifiable information at a policy level during the underwriting process, including prior loss experience, past driving records and, where permitted, credit histories.

CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Claims management includes the receipt of initial loss notifications, generation of appropriate responses to claim reports, loss appraisals, identification and handling of coverage issues, determination of whether further investigation is required, retention of legal representation, where appropriate, establishment of case reserves, approval of loss payments, and notification to reinsurers. Part of our strategy focuses on efficient, timely and fair claim settlements to meet customer service expectations and maintain valuable independent agent relationships. Additionally, effective claims management is important to our business since claim payments and related loss adjustment expenses are our largest expenditures.

We utilize experienced claims adjusters, appraisers, medical specialists, managers and attorneys to manage our claims. Our property and casualty operations have both virtual and field claims adjusters located throughout the states and regions in which we do business. Claims staff members often work closely with the independent agents who bound the policies under which coverage is claimed. Claims adjusting staff are supported by general adjusters for large property and casualty losses, by automobile and heavy equipment damage appraisers for automobile material damage losses, and by medical specialists whose principal concentration is on workers’ compensation and automobile injury cases. Additionally, the claims staff are supported by staff attorneys who specialize in litigation defense and claim settlements. We have a catastrophe response team to assist policyholders impacted by severe weather events. This team mobilizes quickly to impacted regions, often in advance for a large tracked storm, to support our local claims adjusters and facilitate a timely response to resulting claims. We also maintain a special unit that investigates suspected insurance fraud and abuse. We utilize claims processing technology, such as customer self-service applications and photo analytics technology, that enables most of the smaller and more routine Personal Lines claims to be processed at centralized locations.

CATASTROPHES

We are subject to claims arising out of catastrophes, which historically have had a significant impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Coverage for such events is a core part of our business, and we expect to experience catastrophe losses in the future, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial results. Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including, among others, hurricanes, tornadoes and other windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather, fire, explosions, riots, and terrorism. The incidence and severity of catastrophes are volatile and difficult to predict.

We endeavor to manage our catastrophe risks through underwriting procedures, including the use of deductibles and specific restrictions for flood and earthquake coverage, subject to regulatory restrictions and competitive pressures, and through geographic exposure management and reinsurance. Our catastrophe reinsurance program is structured to protect us on a per-occurrence and aggregate excess basis. We monitor geographic location and coverage concentrations with a view toward managing corporate exposure to catastrophic events. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of property and casualty lines, commercial multiple peril and homeowners property coverages have, in the past, generated the majority of catastrophe-related claims.

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REINSURANCE

Reinsurance Program Overview

We maintain ceded reinsurance programs designed to protect against large or unusual loss and LAE activity. We utilize a variety of proportional and non-proportional reinsurance agreements, which are intended to control our individual policy and aggregate exposure to large property and casualty losses, stabilize earnings and protect capital resources. These programs include facultative reinsurance (to limit exposure on a specified risk); specific excess and proportional treaty reinsurance (to limit exposure on individual policies or risks within specified classes of business); and catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance (to limit exposure to any one event that might impact more than one individual policy). Our proportional reinsurance consists of quota share reinsurance agreements and our non-proportional reinsurance includes excess of loss and stop loss reinsurance agreements.

Catastrophe reinsurance is designed to protect us, as the ceding insurer, from significant losses arising from a single event including, among others, hurricanes, tornadoes and other windstorms, earthquakes, hail, severe winter weather, fire, explosions, riots, flood and terrorism. We determine the appropriate amount of reinsurance based on our evaluation of the risks insured, exposure analyses prepared by advisors, our risk appetite and market conditions, including the availability and pricing of reinsurance. Although we believe our catastrophe reinsurance program, including our retention and co-participation amounts for 2023, is appropriate given our surplus level and the current reinsurance pricing environment, there can be no assurance that our reinsurance program will provide coverage levels that will prove adequate should we experience losses from one significant or several large catastrophes during 2023. Additionally, as a result of the current economic environment, as well as losses incurred by reinsurers in the past several years, the availability and pricing of appropriate reinsurance programs may be adversely affected in future renewal periods. We may not be able to pass these costs on to policyholders, or there may be a delay in passing these costs to policyholders, in the form of higher premiums or assessments.

We cede to reinsurers a portion of our risk based upon insurance policies subject to such reinsurance. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve us from our obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to us. We believe that the terms of our reinsurance contracts are consistent with industry practice in that they contain standard terms with respect to lines of business covered, limit and retention, arbitration and occurrence. Subsequent to the emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020, some of our reinsurance contract renewals contain varying forms of pandemic and other exclusions, which we believe are consistent with current reinsurance contract exclusions in the market generally. We believe our reinsurers are financially sound, based upon our ongoing review of the financial strength ratings assigned to them by rating agencies, their reputations in the reinsurance marketplace, our collections history, information and advice from third parties, and the analysis and guidance of our reinsurance advisors.

Reference is made to Note 13 — “Reinsurance” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Reference is also made to “Involuntary Residual Markets” below.

Our 2023 reinsurance program for our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments is fundamentally similar to our 2022 program. The following discussion summarizes both our 2022 and 2023 reinsurance programs for our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments (excluding coverage available under the U.S. federal terrorism program which is described below under “Terrorism”), but does not purport to be a complete description of the program or the various restrictions or limitations which may apply:

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Our intention is to renew the surety and fidelity bond treaty, the property per risk excess of loss treaty and the property catastrophe occurrence excess of loss treaty in July 2023 with the same or similar terms and conditions, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our current levels of reinsurance, pricing and terms and conditions. Our 2023 casualty excess of loss treaty is effective January 1, 2023.

During 2021, we entered into an agreement to transfer our Excess and Casualty Reinsurance Association (“ECRA”) pool participations to a third-party reinsurer. This transfer was executed through a 100% reinsurance arrangement for our ECRA claim liability participations, which were written during the period 1950 to 1982. In 1982, the pool was dissolved and since that time, the business has been in run-off. This transaction had no significant impact on our results of operations.

Catastrophe Bonds

Effective July 1, 2022, we secured new catastrophe protection through a per occurrence excess of loss reinsurance agreement with Commonwealth Re Ltd. ("Commonwealth Re"), an independent company, licensed as a Special Purpose Insurer in Bermuda. The reinsurance agreement meets the requirements to be accounted for as reinsurance in accordance with the guidance for reinsurance contracts. In connection with the reinsurance agreement, Commonwealth Re issued notes (generally referred to as “catastrophe bonds”) to investors in amounts totaling $150.0 million, consistent with the amount of coverage provided under the reinsurance agreement as described below. The proceeds were deposited in a reinsurance trust account.
 

The reinsurance agreement provides us with coverage of up to $150.0 million through June 30, 2025, for catastrophe losses from named tropical storms or hurricanes, including all events or perils directly resulting from such storm or storm system, which may include, by way of example and not limitation, hurricane, wind, gusts, typhoon, hail, rain, tornadoes, cyclones, ensuing flood, storm surge, water damage, fire following, sprinkler leakage, riots, vandalism, and collapse. For events up to and including June 30, 2025, we are entitled to begin recovering amounts under this reinsurance agreement if the covered losses in the covered area for a single occurrence reach an initial attachment amount of $1.3 billion. The full $150.0 million coverage amount is available until such covered losses reach a maximum $1.45 billion. The attachment level and the maximum level (or exhaustion level) under this agreement may be reset annually to adjust the expected loss of the layer within a predetermined range. The coverage under the reinsurance agreement is limited to specified personal and commercial property coverage written in the following geographies in the United States: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
 

Under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, we are obligated to pay annual reinsurance premiums to Commonwealth Re for the reinsurance coverage. Amounts payable under the reinsurance agreement with respect to any covered event cannot exceed our actual losses from such event. The principal amount of the catastrophe bonds will be reduced by any amounts paid to us under the reinsurance agreement.

As with any reinsurance agreement, there is credit risk associated with collecting amounts due from reinsurers. With regard to Commonwealth Re, since the reinsurance coverage is fully collateralized by the proceeds from the catastrophe bond offering, the credit risk is largely mitigated. Commonwealth Re has funded a reinsurance trust account with money market funds that invest primarily in cash or direct U.S. federal government obligations and obligations backed by the U.S. federal government with maturities of no more than 397 calendar days. The money market funds must have a principal stability rating of at least AAAm by Standard & Poor’s or Aaa by Moody’s on the issuance date of the bonds and thereafter must be rated by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, as applicable.
 

At the time the agreement was entered into with Commonwealth Re, we evaluated the applicability of the accounting guidance that addresses variable interest entities (“VIE”). Under this guidance, an entity that is formed for business purposes is considered a VIE if (a) the equity investors lack the direct or indirect ability through voting rights or similar rights to make decisions about an entity's activities that have a significant effect on the entity’s operations or (b) the equity investors do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. Additionally, a company that absorbs a majority of the expected losses from a VIE’s activities or is entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both, is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and is required to consolidate the VIE in the company’s financial statements. We concluded that Commonwealth Re was a VIE because the conditions described in items (a) and (b) above were present. However, while Commonwealth Re was determined to be a VIE, we

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concluded that we do not have a variable interest in the entity, as the variability in its results, caused by the reinsurance agreement, is expected to be absorbed entirely by the investors in the catastrophe bonds issued by Commonwealth Re and residual amounts earned by it, if any, are expected to be absorbed by the equity investors (we have neither an equity nor a residual interest in Commonwealth Re). Accordingly, we are not the primary beneficiary of Commonwealth Re and do not consolidate that entity in our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, because we have no intention to pursue any transaction that would result in our acquisition of an interest in and becoming the primary beneficiary of Commonwealth Re, the consolidation of that entity in our consolidated financial statements in future periods is unlikely.

Terrorism

As a result of the continuing threat of terrorist attacks, the insurance industry maintains a high level of focus with respect to the potential for losses caused by terrorist acts. Insured losses may encompass people, property and business operations covered under workers’ compensation, commercial multiple peril and other commercial lines policies, in both our Core Commercial and Specialty lines, as well as Personal Lines policies. In certain cases, such as workers’ compensation, we are not able to exclude coverage for these losses, either because of regulatory requirements or competitive pressures. Losses caused by terrorist acts are not excluded from homeowners or personal automobile policies. We continually evaluate the potential effect of these low frequency, but potentially high severity, events in our overall pricing and underwriting plans, especially for policies written in major metropolitan areas.

Although certain terrorism-related risks embedded in our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines are covered under the existing Catastrophe, Property per Risk and Casualty Excess of Loss corporate reinsurance treaties (see “Reinsurance – Reinsurance Program Overview” above for additional information), private sector catastrophe reinsurance is limited or unavailable for losses attributed to acts of terrorism, particularly those involving nuclear, biological, chemical and/or radiological events. As a result, the industry’s primary reinsurance protection against large-scale terrorist attacks in the U.S. is provided through a federal program that provides compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism.

The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 first established the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (the “Program”). Coverage under the Program applies to workers’ compensation, commercial multiple peril and certain other commercial lines policies in both our Core Commercial and Specialty segments for direct written policies. The Program will expire in December 2027. All commercial property and casualty insurers are required to participate in the Program. Under the Program, a participating issuer, in exchange for making terrorism insurance available, may be entitled to be reimbursed by the Federal government for a portion of its aggregate losses. The Program does not cover losses in surety within Specialty, Personal Lines or certain other lines of business.

As required by the Program, we offer policyholders in specific lines of commercial insurance the option to elect terrorism coverage. In order for a loss event to be reinsured under the Program, the loss event must meet aggregate industry loss minimums and must be the result of an act of terrorism as certified by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney General. Losses from events which do not qualify or are not so certified will not receive the benefit of the Program. Such losses may be deemed covered losses under the insured’s policy whether or not terrorism coverage was purchased. Further, under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019, our share of U.S. domestic losses in 2022 from such events, if deemed certified terrorist events, would have been limited to 20% of losses in excess of an approximate $501 million deductible, which represented 18.4% of year-end 2021 statutory policyholder surplus of our insurers, and, is estimated to be $555 million in 2023, representing 20.6% of 2022 year-end statutory policyholder surplus, up to a combined annual aggregate limit for the federal government and all insurers of $100 billion.

Given the unpredictability of terrorism losses, future losses from acts of terrorism could be material to our operating results, financial position, and/or liquidity. We attempt to manage our exposures on an individual line of business basis and in the aggregate by one-half square mile grids in major metropolitan areas.

Reinsurance Recoverables

When we experience loss events that are subject to a reinsurance contract, reinsurance recoverables are recorded. The amount of the recorded reinsurance recoverable depends on the estimated size of the individual loss or the aggregate amount of all losses in a particular line, book of business or an aggregate amount associated with a particular accident year. The valuation of losses recoverable depends on whether the underlying loss is a reported loss, or an incurred but not reported loss. For reported losses, we value reinsurance recoverables at the time the underlying loss is recognized, in accordance with contract terms. For incurred but not reported losses, we estimate the amount of reinsurance recoverable based on the terms of the reinsurance contracts and historical reinsurance recovery information and apply that information to the gross loss reserve estimates. The most significant assumption we use is the average size of the individual losses that will exceed our reinsurance retentions for those claims that have occurred but have not yet been reported to us. The reinsurance recoverable is based on what we believe are reasonable estimates and is disclosed separately on the financial statements. However, the ultimate amount of the reinsurance recoverable is not known until all losses are settled.

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Other than our investment portfolio, the single largest asset class is our reinsurance recoverables, which consist of our estimate of amounts recoverable from reinsurers with respect to losses incurred to date (including losses incurred but not reported) and unearned premiums, net of amounts estimated to be uncollectible. These estimates are expected to be revised at each reporting period and such revisions, which could be material, affect our results of operations and financial position. Reinsurance recoverables include amounts due from state mandatory reinsurance or other involuntary risk sharing mechanisms, and private reinsurers to whom we have voluntarily ceded business.

We are subject to concentration of risk with respect to reinsurance ceded to various mandatory residual markets, facilities and pooling mechanisms. As a condition to conduct business in various states, we are required to participate in residual market mechanisms, facilities and pooling arrangements, which usually are designed to provide insurance coverages to individuals or other entities that are otherwise unable to purchase such coverage voluntarily or at rates deemed reasonable. These market mechanisms, facilities and pooling arrangements comprise $893.5 million of our total reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid losses and unearned premiums at December 31, 2022, $883.0 million of which is attributable to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (“MCCA”).

The MCCA is a mandatory reinsurance association that reinsures claims that arise under Michigan’s unlimited personal injury protection coverage, which is one of the available coverage options under Michigan’s no-fault automobile insurance statute. The MCCA reinsures all such claims in excess of a statutorily established company retention, currently $600,000. Funding for the MCCA comes from assessments against automobile insurers based upon their share of insured automobiles in the state for which the policyholders have elected unlimited PIP benefits. Insurers are allowed to pass along this cost to Michigan automobile policyholders. This recoverable accounted for 54% and 57% of our total personal automobile gross reserves at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Because the MCCA is supported by assessments permitted by statute, and there have been no significant uncollectible balances from MCCA identified during the three years ending December 31, 2022, we believe that we have no significant exposure to uncollectible reinsurance balances from this entity.

In 2021, the MCCA Board voted unanimously to return approximately $3.0 billion of its estimated surplus to policyholders through its member insurance companies. This action occurred because the association’s surplus was deemed to have increased beyond a level necessary to cover its expected losses and expenses. Since policyholders are the ultimate payers of the MCCA premium, this return of MCCA surplus was passed through to policyholders. The refund was paid to policyholders and was recorded as a refund of premium transaction in our financial statements, reducing both direct written premium and ceded written premium. There was no effect on net written premium or net earned premium. The total amount of the refund was approximately $183.2 million, comprised of $179.1 million for personal automobile and $4.1 million for commercial automobile policyholders.

In addition to the reinsurance ceded to various residual market mechanisms, facilities and pooling arrangements, we had $1,071.0 million of reinsurance assets due from traditional reinsurers as of December 31, 2022. These amounts are due principally from highly-rated reinsurers, defined as rated A- or higher by A.M. Best or other equivalent rating agencies. In certain instances, for example in our Hanover Programs business, we also require, from the reinsurer, a deposit of assets in trust, letters of credit or other acceptable collateral in order to support balances due from reinsurers that provide reinsurance only on a collateralized basis.

The following table displays balances recoverable from our ten largest reinsurance groups at December 31, 2022, along with the A.M. Best rating for each group’s ultimate parent or lead rating unit, if an A.M. Best rating is available. Reinsurance recoverables are comprised of paid losses recoverable, outstanding losses recoverable, incurred but not reported losses recoverable, and ceded unearned premium.

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(1) No AM Best rating available. Reinsurance recoverable fully collateralized by assets in trust.
 

Reinsurance recoverable balances in the table above are shown before consideration of balances owed to reinsurers and any potential rights of offset, including collateral held by us, and are net of an allowance for uncollectible recoverables. Reinsurance treaties are generally purchased on an annual basis. Treaties typically contain provisions that allow us to demand that a reinsurer post letters of credit or assets as security if a reinsurer is an unauthorized reinsurer under applicable regulations or if its rating falls below a predetermined contractual level. In regards to reinsurance recoverables due from Lloyd’s Syndicates, as part of the Lloyd’s “chain of security” afforded to all of its policyholders, recourse is available through the Lloyd’s Central Fund in the event of the failure of an individual syndicate and its capital providers.
 

Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, ceded reinsurance arrangements do not eliminate our obligation to pay claims to our policyholders. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers. Specifically, our reinsurers may not pay claims made by us on a timely basis, or they may not pay some or all of these claims. In addition, from time to time, insurers and reinsurers may disagree on the scope of the reinsurance or on the underlying insured risks. Any of these events would increase our costs and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We have established a reserve for uncollectible reinsurance of $7.9 million as of December 31, 2022, or 0.4% of the total reinsurance recoverable balance, which was determined by considering reinsurer specific default risk on paid and unpaid recoverables as indicated by their financial strength ratings, any ongoing solvency issues, any current risk of dispute on paid recoverables, and our past collection experience. There have been no significant balances determined to be uncollectible and thus no significant charges recorded during 2022 for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables.

Our exposure to credit risk from any one reinsurer is managed through diversification by reinsuring with a number of different reinsurers, principally in the United States and European reinsurance markets. When reinsurance for our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines segments is placed, our standards of acceptability generally require that a reinsurer must have a minimum policyholder surplus of $500 million, a rating from A.M. Best and/or S&P Global of “A” or better, or an equivalent financial strength, if not rated. In addition, for lower rated or non-rated reinsurers, we customize collateral and restrict participation to effectively manage counterparty risk, with review and approval required by the counterparty credit committee.

REGULATION

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation in the states in which they transact business and are supervised by the individual state insurance departments. Numerous aspects of our business are subject to regulation, including premium rates, mandatory covered risks, limitations on the ability to cancel, non-renew, reject business or limit writings in certain geographic areas, prohibited exclusions, licensing and appointment or termination of agents, restrictions on the size of risks that may be insured under a single policy, reserves and provisions for unearned premiums, losses and other obligations, deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders, investments and capital, policy forms and coverages, advertising, claims handling, and other conduct, including restrictions on the use of credit information and other factors in underwriting, as well as other underwriting and claims practices. These restrictions limit the ability of insurers to underwrite or price policies on the basis of available third-party information (such as “social media”) and “big data.” Insurers are also subject to state laws and regulations governing the protection of their data systems and the use and protection of personal information collected in the ordinary course of operations. States also regulate various aspects of the contractual relationships between insurers and independent agents.

Such laws, rules and regulations are usually overseen and enforced by the various state insurance departments, as well as through private rights of action and by state attorneys general. Such regulations or enforcement actions are often responsive to current consumer and political sensitivities, such as automobile and homeowners insurance rates and coverage forms, or which may arise after a major event. Such rules and regulations may result in rate suppression, limit our ability to manage our exposure to unprofitable or volatile risks, require expenditures to facilitate compliance, or lead to fines, premium refunds or other adverse consequences. The federal government also may regulate aspects of our businesses, such as the use of insurance (credit) scores or other information in underwriting and the protection of confidential information.

In addition, as a condition to writing business in certain states, insurers are required to participate in various pools or risk sharing mechanisms or to accept certain classes of risk, regardless of whether such risks meet their underwriting requirements for voluntary business. Some states also limit or impose restrictions on the ability of an insurer to withdraw from certain classes of business. For example, Massachusetts, New York and California each impose material restrictions on a company’s ability to materially reduce its exposures or to withdraw from certain lines of business in their respective states. The state insurance departments can impose significant charges on an insurer in connection with a market withdrawal or refuse to approve withdrawal plans on the grounds that they could lead to market disruption. Laws and regulations that limit cancellation and non-renewal of policies or that subject withdrawal plans to prior approval requirements may significantly restrict our ability to exit unprofitable markets. Such actions and related regulatory restrictions may limit our ability to reduce our potential exposure to hurricane and other catastrophe-related losses.

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The insurance laws of many states subject property and casualty insurers doing business in those states to statutory property and casualty guaranty fund assessments. The purpose of a guaranty fund is to protect policyholders by requiring that solvent property and casualty insurers pay the insurance claims of insolvent insurers. These guaranty associations generally pay these claims by assessing solvent insurers proportionately based on each insurer’s share of voluntary premiums written in the state. While most guaranty associations provide for recovery of assessments through subsequent rate increases, surcharges or premium tax credits, there is no assurance that insurers will ultimately recover these assessments, which could be material, particularly following a large catastrophe or in markets which become disrupted.

We are subject to periodic financial and market conduct examinations conducted by state insurance departments. We are also required to file annual and other reports with state insurance departments relating to the financial condition of our insurance subsidiaries and other matters. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) and the Federal Insurance Office are each actively engaged in reviewing and considering proposed insurer risk-based capital standards, risk analysis, solvency assessments and other regulatory initiatives.

Other aspects of our business are subject to regulation as well. For example, Opus is subject to state and federal securities law, including regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), pertaining to the marketing and provision of institutional investment management services.

INVOLUNTARY RESIDUAL MARKETS

As noted above, as a condition of our license to write business in various states, we are required to participate in mandatory property and casualty residual market mechanisms which provide insurance coverages where such coverage may not otherwise be available or at rates deemed reasonable. Such mechanisms provide coverage primarily for personal and commercial property, personal and commercial automobile, and workers’ compensation, and include assigned risk plans, reinsurance facilities and involuntary pools, joint underwriting associations, fair access to insurance requirements (“FAIR”) plans and commercial automobile insurance plans.

For example, since most states compel the purchase of a minimal level of automobile liability insurance, states have developed shared market mechanisms to provide the required coverages and in many cases, optional coverages, to those drivers who, because of their driving records or other factors, cannot find insurers who will insure them voluntarily. Also, FAIR plans and other similar property insurance shared market mechanisms increase the availability of property insurance in circumstances where homeowners are unable to obtain insurance at rates deemed reasonable, such as in coastal areas or in areas subject to other hazards. Licensed insurers writing business in such states are often required to pay assessments to cover reserve deficiencies generated by such plans.

With respect to FAIR plans and other similar property insurance shared market mechanisms that have significant exposures, it is difficult to accurately estimate our potential financial exposure for future events. Assessments following a large coastal event, particularly one affecting Massachusetts, Texas, North Carolina or New York, or a large wildfire event affecting California, could be material to our results of operations. Our participation in such shared markets or pooling mechanisms is generally proportional to our direct writings for the type of coverage written by the specific pooling mechanism in the applicable state or other jurisdiction. For example, we are subject to mandatory participation in the Michigan Assigned Claims (“MAC”) facility. MAC is an assigned claim plan covering people injured in uninsured motor vehicle accidents. Our participation in the MAC facility is based on our share of personal and commercial automobile direct written premium in the state and resulted in loss costs of $24.3 million in 2022. As a result of the aforementioned Michigan automobile reform that was effective July 2021, there is increased uncertainty regarding its impact on our future MAC facility loss costs. There were no other mandatory residual market mechanisms that were significant to our 2022 results of operations.

RESERVE FOR UNPAID LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

Reference is made to “Results of Operations – Segments – Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” of Management’s Discussion and Analysis for discussion of prior year development. Additionally, information regarding loss and LAE reserve development appears in Note 14 – “Liabilities for Outstanding Claims, Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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The following table reconciles reserves determined in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance statutory authorities (“Statutory”) to reserves determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The primary difference between the Statutory reserves and our GAAP reserves is the requirement, on a GAAP basis, to present reinsurance recoverables as an asset, whereas Statutory guidance provides that reserves are reflected net of the corresponding reinsurance recoverables. We do not use discounting techniques in establishing GAAP reserves for property and casualty losses and LAE.

Reserves for discontinued accident and health business of our insurance subsidiaries are included in liabilities of discontinued operations for GAAP and loss and loss adjustment expenses for Statutory reporting.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

Discontinued operations primarily include our former accident and health insurance business. This discontinued accident and health business includes interests in 22 accident and health reinsurance pools and arrangements that we retained subsequent to the sale of First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company (“FAFLIC”) in 2009. We ceased writing new premiums in this business in 1999, subject to certain contractual obligations. The reinsurance pool business consists primarily of long-term care, the medical and disability portions of workers’ compensation risks, assumed personal accident, individual medical, long-term disability, and special risk business. This business also includes residual health insurance policies. Total reserves for the assumed accident and health business were $119.1 million at December 31, 2022. The long-term care pool accounted for approximately 75% of these reserves as of December 31, 2022. Reserves for the long-term care pool, individual medical, and residual health insurance policies are discounted. Reserves for all other assumed accident and health business are undiscounted. Assets and liabilities related to the discontinued accident and health business are reflected as assets and liabilities of discontinued businesses.

Loss estimates associated with substantially all of the discontinued accident and health business are provided by managers of each pool. We adopt reserve estimates for this business that consider this information, expected returns on assets assigned to this business and other facts. We update these reserves as new information becomes available and further events occur that may affect the ultimate resolution of unsettled claims. Based on information provided to us by the pool managers, we believe the reserves recorded related to this business are adequate. However, since reserve and claim cost estimates related to the discontinued accident and health business are dependent on several assumptions, including, but not limited to, morbidity, lapses, future premium rates, future health care costs, persistency of medical care inflation and investment performance, and these assumptions can be impacted by technical developments and advancements in the medical field, medical and long-term care inflation and other factors, there can be no assurance that the reserves established for this business will prove sufficient. Revisions to these reserves could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular quarterly or annual period or on our financial position. See also “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A.

Our long-term care pool accounts for the majority of our remaining reinsurance pool business. The potential risk and exposure of our long-term care pool is based upon expected estimated claims and payment patterns, using assumptions for, among other things, morbidity, lapses, future premium rates, and the interest rate used for discounting the future projected cash flows, as well as regulatory developments affecting the ceding insurers. The long-term exposure of this pool depends upon how our actual experience compares with these future cash flow projection assumptions.

Also included in discontinued operations are our former life insurance and Chaucer businesses, which include activities that were not significant to our 2022 results. We retain indemnification obligations with respect to these businesses.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Opus, is responsible for managing our investment portfolio. Opus directly manages our investment-grade fixed maturity portfolio and equity security portfolio, which together with cash, constituted approximately 87% of our total holdings at December 31, 2022. Opus is also responsible for the selection and monitoring of external asset managers for our commercial mortgage loan participations, limited partnership investments, high yield fixed maturity portfolio and leveraged loan holdings. We select and monitor external managers based on investment approach, track record of risk-adjusted returns and corporate governance.

Our investment strategy seeks to balance the goals of liquidity, capital preservation, net investment income stability and total return. The asset allocation process takes into consideration the profile and expected payout pattern of our liabilities, the level of capital required to support growth across lines of business and the risk profiles of a wide range of asset classes.

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The majority of our assets are invested in investment grade fixed income securities across various sectors including U.S. government, municipal, corporate, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Our holdings are diversified within and across major investment and industry sectors to mitigate concentration risk. We monitor the credit quality of our investments and our exposure to individual markets, borrowers, industries, sectors and, in the case of commercial mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage loan participations, property types and geographic locations. We consider Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) factors in our fundamental investment research process, because these important factors can influence the sustainability of an investment, and its risk and return profile.

Investments held by our regulated insurance subsidiaries are subject to state insurance statutes governing permitted investments. Investment considerations include asset/liability profile, including duration, convexity and other characteristics within specified risk tolerances. Our fixed maturity portfolio duration is approximately 4.3 years. We seek to maintain sufficient liquidity to support the cash flow requirements associated with our insurance and corporate liabilities by laddering the maturities within the portfolio, closely monitoring fixed maturity duration, and holding high-quality liquid public securities.

Reference is made to “Investments” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

RATING AGENCIES

Insurance companies are rated by rating agencies to provide both industry participants and insurance consumers information on specific insurance companies. Higher ratings generally indicate the rating agencies’ opinion regarding financial stability and a stronger ability to pay claims.

We believe that strong ratings are important factors in marketing our products to our agents and customers, since rating information is broadly disseminated and generally used throughout the industry. Insurance company financial strength ratings are assigned to an insurer based upon factors deemed by the rating agencies to be relevant to policyholders and are not directed toward protection of investors. Such ratings are neither a rating of securities nor a recommendation to buy, hold or sell any security. Customers typically focus on claims-paying ratings, while creditors focus on debt ratings. Investors consider both rating types when evaluating a company’s overall financial strength.

EMPLOYEES AND HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately 4,600 employees, all of whom are located in the United States. We believe our relations with employees are positive, as evidenced by employee feedback received through employee surveys and other formal and informal channels.

To successfully operate our business, we rely on our corporate culture and on attracting, developing and retaining qualified employees to differentiate our company and deliver on our commitments to our independent agents, customers, investors and other stakeholders. The following is a description of the material human capital measures and objectives that management focuses on in managing the business with the oversight and support of our Board of Directors.

Inclusion, Diversity and Equity

We strive to foster an environment of inclusion, diversity and equity (“IDE”) that welcomes the unique perspectives, experiences and insights of individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life, because we believe that this will lead to greater engagement of our employees in pursuit of our business objectives. Our goal is to continue to develop an inclusive and diverse workforce that fosters equity, innovation, respect and collaboration.

Management has focused on IDE within our workforce by developing a multi-year educational program centered on inclusive leadership training and accountability that is designed to impact each of our employees, and by diversifying our talent sourcing practices to develop, advance and retain a diverse employee population. Additionally, we are investing in internal business resource groups to support our company’s cultural values, drive our business initiatives forward, meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders, and foster our commitment to build an inclusive and diverse work environment. Management’s continued objectives in IDE include reinforcing inclusive behaviors at all levels of our organization, evaluating and mitigating bias in the talent lifecycle in an effort to enhance the recruiting, hiring, development and retention of women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups, and continuing to focus on our internal business resource groups to promote belonging, equity and the importance of allyship.

Accountability for IDE has been established by incorporating Board oversight of IDE, as part of our larger corporate culture, into the charter of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board of Directors (“CHCC”) and by including support of and progress on IDE initiatives as part of the incentive compensation evaluation process for our CEO and entire executive leadership team.

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Engagement and Alignment with Company Culture

We believe that an employee workforce that is engaged and aligned with our core cultural values of collaboration, accountability, respect and empowerment (our CARE values) is fundamental to delivering on our business commitments. Management focuses on maintaining an engaged workforce by providing transparent communications and soliciting employee feedback informally and through focus groups and employee surveys, including a comprehensive survey of our entire workforce conducted in 2021, with a second survey planned for later this year, by an independent third-party firm. To foster accountability, every employee, regardless of role, receives a formal evaluation and performance discussion annually, and the evaluation process is aligned to our CARE values and expected leadership behaviors. In addition, we expect that performance connections take place between manager and employee on an ongoing basis to consider goals, overall performance, development opportunities, and demonstration of leadership and corporate values.

Development and Succession Planning

We recognize the importance of employee development for our team members throughout their careers as an important driver of workforce engagement, retention, and succession planning. Management focuses on providing learning and development through multiple modalities, including utilizing a robust online learning management platform that accommodates various schedules and diverse learning styles, engaging in experiential learning through growth assignments and special projects, using virtual and classroom workshops, providing reimbursement for tuition and education-related fees (including professional and industry designations), and through the course of our goal-setting and performance evaluation process.

We are committed to identifying and investing in the development of our future leaders and accomplish this through formal talent review and succession planning processes that are aligned to standard leadership capabilities and our critical roles. Our development focus may include 360 feedback assessments, formal leadership development programs, executive coaching and experiential development opportunities for many employees.

Incentivized Workforce

The emphasis on our overall performance is intended to align the employee’s financial interests with the interests of shareholders. Our compensation philosophy is based on a merit system where employees are paid for their performance and recognized for their talents and contributions. We are committed to fair and equitable total compensation that includes base pay and short- and long-term incentives that are competitive with others in our industry, while also promoting internal equity across our organization. We offer a 401(k) plan with a company matching contribution, flexible paid time off policies, an employee stock purchase program, retirement planning services, and health and wellness benefits described below, among other benefits. Most employees receive short-term incentive compensation based on annual goals with the funding and metrics approved by the CHCC. Additionally, our senior leaders receive long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards.

Employee Health and Wellness

Our benefits packages are designed to maintain the physical, financial, mental and social well-being of our employees, their families and dependents. We offer medical plan selections and other health and wellness offerings, including, among others, dental, vision and hearing health options, life and disability insurance, an employee assistance program, paid parental leave and family and medical leave, flexible work schedules and remote work arrangements, health advocacy services, adoption assistance benefit, and child care and elder care support.

We have transitioned to a fully hybrid work environment that provides flexibility based on business needs and that serves as a strong lever for employee engagement and retention. We have implemented measures intended to enhance operational efficiencies related to remote work such as investing in our technology and business continuity infrastructure.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Reference is made to “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” in Part III - Item 10.

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AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, and other required information with the SEC. Shareholders may obtain reports, proxy and information statements, and other information with respect to our filings, at the SEC’s website, https://www.sec.gov.

Our website address is https://www.hanover.com. We make available, free of charge, on or through our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Our Code of Conduct is also available, free of charge, on our website. Additionally, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation and Human Capital Committee, Committee of Independent Directors, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, are available on our website. All documents are also available in print to any shareholder who requests them. Unless specifically incorporated by reference, information on our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A–RISK FACTORS

RISK FACTORS AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, our actual results and could cause our actual results to differ materially from historical results and from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made from time to time by us on the basis of our then-current expectations. The words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “projections,” “outlook,” should,” “could,” “plan,” “guidance,” “likely,” “on track to,” “targeted” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our businesses are in rapidly changing and competitive markets, and involve a high degree of risk and unpredictability. Forward-looking projections are subject to these risks and unpredictability.

Risks Related to Underwriting, Risk Aggregation and Risk Management

Our results may fluctuate as a result of cyclical or non-cyclical changes in the property and casualty insurance industry.

The property and casualty insurance industry historically has been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. Our profitability is materially affected by the following items:

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The demand for property and casualty insurance can also vary significantly based on general economic conditions (either nationally or regionally), rising as the overall level of economic activity increases and falling as such activity decreases. Loss patterns also tend to vary inversely with local economic conditions, increasing during difficult or unstable economic times and moderating during economic upswings or periods of stability. The COVID-19 Pandemic introduced additional, persistent complexity to loss patterns. The fluctuations in demand and competition could produce unpredictable underwriting results.

Due to geographical concentration in our business, changes in economic, regulatory and other conditions in the regions where we operate could have a significant negative impact on our business as a whole. Geographic concentrations also expose us to losses that are potentially disproportionate to our market share in the event of natural or other catastrophes.

We generate a significant portion of our net premiums written and earnings in Michigan, Massachusetts and other states in the Northeast. In addition, a significant amount of Core Commercial and Specialty net written premium is generated in California and Texas. For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 19.7% and 8.6% of our net premiums written in our business were generated in the states of Michigan and Massachusetts, respectively, and approximately 11.5% and 7.9% of our Core Commercial and approximately 12.6% and 9.7% of our Specialty net premiums written were generated in California and Texas, respectively. Many states in which we do business impose significant rate control and residual market charges and restrict an insurer’s ability to exit such markets (for example, the Insurance Commissioner in California has taken steps to limit non-renewal of property policies in geographic areas prone to wildfires). The revenues and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries are subject to prevailing economic, regulatory, demographic and other conditions, including adverse weather. Because of our geographic concentration in certain regions, our business, as a whole, could be significantly affected by changes in the economic, regulatory and other conditions in such areas.

Further, certain new catastrophe models assume an increase in frequency and severity of certain weather or other events, such as fires, flooding from heavy precipitation and hurricanes, as a result of changing weather patterns and global climate change, or otherwise. Financial strength rating agencies emphasize capital and reinsurance adequacy for insurers with geographic concentrations of risk that may be subject to disproportionate risk of loss. These factors also may result in insurers seeking to diversify their geographic exposure, which could result in increased regulatory restrictions in those markets where insurers seek to exit or reduce coverage, as well as an increase in competitive pressures in less weather-exposed markets.

Our profitability may be adversely affected if our pricing models differ materially from actual results.

The profitability of our business depends on the extent to which our actual claims experience is consistent with the assumptions we use in pricing our policies. We price our business in a manner that is intended to be consistent, over time, with actual results and return objectives. Our estimates and models, and/or the assumptions behind them, may differ materially from actual results. Highly dynamic economic, social, regulatory or environmental conditions, in isolation or in combination, may impact the effectiveness of our pricing models.

If we fail to appropriately price the risks we insure, fail to change or are slow to change our pricing model to appropriately reflect our current experience, or if our claims experience is more frequent or severe than our underlying risk assumptions, our profit margins will be negatively affected. If we underestimate the frequency and/or severity of extreme adverse events, our financial condition may be adversely affected. If we overestimate the risks we are exposed to, we may overprice our products, and new business growth and retention of our existing business may be adversely affected.

Our business is dependent on our ability to manage risk, and the failure of the risk mitigation strategies we utilize could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Our business performance is highly dependent on our ability to manage operational risks arising from numerous day-to-day business activities, including insurance underwriting, claims processing, servicing, investment, financial and tax reporting, compliance with regulatory requirements and other activities. We utilize numerous strategies to mitigate our insurance risk exposure, including: underwriting; setting exposure limits, deductibles and exclusions to mitigate policy risk; updating and reviewing the terms and conditions of our policies; managing risk aggregation by product line, geography, industry type, credit exposure and other bases; and ceding insurance risk. We seek to monitor and control our exposure to risks arising out of these activities through an enterprise-wide risk management framework. However, there are inherent limitations in each of these tactics, and no assurance can be given that these processes and procedures will effectively control all known risks or effectively identify unforeseen risks, or that an event or series of events will not result in loss levels in excess of our probable maximum loss models, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. It is also possible that losses could manifest themselves in ways that we do not anticipate and that our risk mitigation strategies are not designed to address. Such a manifestation of losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. These risks may be heightened during times of challenging macroeconomic or sociopolitical conditions, such as a recession.

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Risks Related to Reserves and Claims

Actual losses from claims against our insurance subsidiaries may exceed their reserves for claims.

We maintain reserves to cover the estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported and unreported claims incurred as of the end of each accounting period. Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent estimates, involving actuarial projections and judgments at a given time, of what we expect the ultimate settlement and administration of incurred claims will cost based on facts and circumstances then known, predictions of future events, estimates of future trends in claims frequency and severity and judicial theories of liability, costs of repair and replacement, legislative activity and myriad other factors.

The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of insurance lines, particularly liability lines. These include automobile bodily injury liability, automobile personal injury protection, general liability, and workers’ compensation, where a longer period of time may elapse before a definitive determination of ultimate liability may be made (sometimes referred to as “long-tail” business), environmental liability, where the technological, judicial and political climates involving these types of claims are continuously evolving, and casualty coverages such as professional liability. The emergence of the Pandemic in 2020 resulted in an increased level of uncertainty for many lines of business, particularly our long-tailed lines. There is also greater uncertainty in establishing reserves with respect to new business, particularly new business that is generated with respect to newer product lines, such as our cyber-risk lines and specialty general liability product, by newly appointed agents, or in new geographies where we have less experience in conducting business. In these cases, there is less historical experience or knowledge and less data that the actuaries can rely on. A combination of business that is both new to us and has longer development periods, provides even greater uncertainty in estimating insurance reserves.

In several Specialty lines, we are modestly increasing, and expect to continue to increase, our exposure to longer-tailed liability lines. In addition, we have experienced extensions of the “tails” in certain lines of business as the full value of claims are presented later than had been our historical experience. The broad impact of the Pandemic on the claims environment has extended these “tails” even further. Also, presumptive orders by state authorities have potentially increased workers’ compensation exposures beyond contractual obligations. Additionally, shifts in claim settlement patterns due to delayed court proceedings and other issues, contribute to the extension of “tails,” increased loss costs and greater uncertainty in reserve estimates.

Estimating reserves is further complicated by unexpected claims or unintended coverages that emerge due to changing conditions. These emerging issues may increase the size or number of claims beyond our underwriting intent and may not become apparent for many years after a policy is issued, such as was the case for the industry with respect to environmental, asbestos, and certain product liability claims. Similar concerns have emerged with what has been called “silent” cyber, or claims arising for cyber losses under traditional policies where such coverage is not intended or contemplated. These losses appear through prior year reserve development. Although we undertake underwriting actions that are designed to limit losses once emerging issues are identified, we remain subject to losses on policies issued during those years preceding the underwriting actions.

Additionally, the introduction of new Core Commercial products and the development of new niche and Specialty lines present new risks. Certain Specialty products, such as the human services program, non-profit directors and officers liability and employment practices liability policies, lawyers and other professional liability policies, healthcare lines and directors and officers coverage may also require a longer period of time (the so-called “tail”) to determine the ultimate liability associated with the claims and may produce more volatility in our results and less certainty in our accident year reserves. Some lines of business, such as surety, are less susceptible to establishing reserves based on actuarial or historical experience, and losses may be episodic, depending on economic and other factors. Changes in laws, such as so-called “reviver” statutes that retrospectively change the statutes of limitations for certain claims, such as sexual molestation claims, add further uncertainty to the adequacy of prior estimates.

Underwriting results and operating income could be adversely affected by further changes in our net loss and LAE estimates related to significant events or emerging risks, such as risks related to attacks on or breaches of cloud-based data information storage or computer network systems (“cyber-risks”), privacy compliance, or disruptions caused by major power grid failures or widespread electrical and electronic equipment failure due to aging infrastructure, natural factors like hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, solar flares and pandemic or societal factors, like terrorism and civil unrest.

Estimating losses following any major catastrophe, or with respect to emerging claims, is an inherently uncertain process. Factors that add to the complexity of estimating losses from these events include legal and regulatory uncertainty, the complexity of factors contributing to the losses, delays in claim reporting, and with respect to areas with significant property damage, the impact of “demand surge” and a slower pace of recovery resulting from the extent of damage sustained in the affected areas due, in part, to the availability and cost of resources to effect repairs. Emerging claims issues may involve complex coverage, liability and other costs that could significantly affect LAE. As a result, there can be no assurance that our ultimate costs associated with these events will not be substantially different from current estimates (for example, actual losses arising from an event could have varied widely depending on the interpretation of various policy provisions). Investors should consider the risks and uncertainties in our business that may affect net loss and LAE reserve estimates and future performance, including the difficulties in arriving at such estimates.

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Anticipated losses associated with business interruption exposure, the impact of wind versus water as the cause of loss, disputes over the extent of damage caused by hailstorms (particularly with respect to roof damage claims), supplemental payments on previously closed claims caused by the development of latent damages or new theories of liability, regulatory impacts and inflationary pressures leading to claims cost escalation could also have a negative impact on future loss reserve development. Many states permit insureds to simply sign-over their claims to contractors or others (so-called “assignment of benefits”), which frequently generate higher claim demands.

Because of the inherent uncertainties involved in setting reserves and establishing current and prior-year “loss picks,” including those related to catastrophes, we cannot provide assurance that the existing reserves or future reserves established by our insurance subsidiaries will prove adequate in light of subsequent events. Our results of operations and financial condition have in the past been, and in the future could be, materially affected by adverse loss development for events that we insured in prior periods.

Risks Related to Weather Events, Catastrophes and Climate Change

Limitations on the ability to predict the potential impact of weather events and catastrophes may impact our future profits and cash flows.

Our business is subject to claims arising out of catastrophes that may have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial condition. We have experienced, and in the future will experience catastrophe losses, which could have a material adverse impact on our business. Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, wind, hail, fires, drought, severe winter weather, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, tsunamis, sabotage, civil unrest, terrorist actions, explosions, nuclear accidents, solar flares, and power outages, which could be exacerbated by infrastructure failures. The frequency and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable.

The extent of gross losses from a catastrophe is a function of the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. The extent of net losses depends on the applicability, amount and collectability of reinsurance.

Additionally, the severity of certain catastrophes could be so significant that it restricts the ability of certain locations to recover their economic viability in the near term. Repeated catastrophes, or the threat of catastrophes, could undermine the long-term economic viability of certain locations like coastal or wildfire-exposed communities, which could have a significant negative impact on our business.

Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of property and casualty lines, homeowners and commercial multiple peril property insurance have, in the past, generated the vast majority of our catastrophe-related claims. Our catastrophe losses have historically been principally weather-related, particularly from hurricanes and hail damage, as well as snow and ice damage from winter storms.

Although the insurance industry and rating agencies have developed various models intended to help estimate potential insured losses under thousands of scenarios, there is no reliable way of predicting the probability of such events or the magnitude of such losses before a specific event occurs. We utilize various models and other techniques in an attempt to measure and manage potential catastrophe losses within various income and capital risk appetites. However, such models and techniques have many limitations, and changes in climate conditions may also cause our historical underlying modeling data to not adequately reflect the frequency and severity of weather-related events in the future, limiting our ability to effectively evaluate and manage risks of catastrophes and severe weather events. In addition, due to historical concentrations of business, regulatory restrictions and other factors, our ability to manage such concentrations is limited, particularly in the Northeast, and in the state of Michigan.

We purchase catastrophe reinsurance as protection against catastrophe losses. Reinsurance is subject to the adequacy and counterparty reinsurance risks described below. Should we experience losses from one significant or several large catastrophes, there can be no assurance that our reinsurance program will provide adequate coverage levels.

Climate change may adversely impact our results of operations and/or our financial position.

Global climate change from rising planet temperatures over the last several decades has been linked to a number of factors that contribute to the increased unpredictability, frequency, duration and severity of weather events, including: changing weather patterns, a rise in ocean temperatures, and sea level rise. Further increases or persistence in these conditions could lead to higher overall losses, which we may not be able to recoup, particularly in a highly regulated and competitive environment, and higher reinsurance costs. Certain catastrophe models assume an increase in frequency and severity of certain weather or other events, which could result in a disproportionate impact on insurers with certain geographic concentrations of risk. This would also likely increase the risks of writing property insurance in coastal areas or areas susceptible to wildfires or flooding, particularly in jurisdictions that restrict pricing and underwriting flexibility. The threat of rising seas or other catastrophe losses as a result of global climate change may also cause property values in coastal or such other communities to decrease, reducing the total amount of insurance coverage that is required.

In addition, global climate change and global climate change-driven systemic transitions could lead to new or enhanced regulation, which may be difficult or costly with which to comply, or impact assets in which we invest, and may result in realized and unrealized losses in future periods that could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and/or financial position. It is not possible to foresee the impacts of potential future climate regulation, or which, if any, assets, industries or markets may be materially and adversely affected by global climate change and global climate change-driven systemic transitions, nor is it possible to foresee the magnitude of such effects.

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Risks Related to Reinsurance

We cannot guarantee the adequacy of or ability to maintain our current level of reinsurance coverage.

Like insurance companies, reinsurance companies can also be adversely impacted by catastrophes. In setting our retention levels and coverage limits, we consider our level of statutory surplus and exposures, as well as the current reinsurance pricing environment and available capacity, but there can be no assurance that we adequately set these levels or limits or that we will be able to maintain our current or desired levels of reinsurance coverage. In particular, and as discussed under “Reinsurance Program Overview” in Information About Operating Segments - Reinsurance, not all of our 2023 reinsurance programs for the Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines are fully placed. Reinsurance is a significant factor in our overall cost of providing primary insurance. However, unlike primary insurers, reinsurers are not subject to rate or other restrictions requiring them to continue availability of reinsurance or limiting cost increases or mandating coverage forms. An individual insurer’s reinsurance expense is correlated to the level of losses experienced by its reinsurers. Future catastrophic events and other changes in the reinsurance marketplace, including as a result of investment losses or disruptions due to challenges in the financial markets that have occurred or could occur in the future, may adversely affect our ability to obtain such coverages, as well as adversely affect the cost of obtaining that coverage.

Additionally, the availability, scope of coverage, cost, and creditworthiness of reinsurance could continue to be adversely affected by new or more frequent catastrophes, terrorist attacks, cyber-risks, and the perceived risks associated with future terrorist activities, global conflicts, including the threat of nuclear conflict, and the changing legal and regulatory environment (including changes that could create new insured risks). Federal reinsurance for terrorism risks coverage offered by insurers is available under the federal terrorism risk insurance program, but it only applies to certified events of terrorism (as defined in the legislation) and contains certain caps and deductibles. Although the federal terrorism risk insurance program coverage is in effect through December 31, 2027, if this program is modified unfavorably by the government in the future, then private reinsurance for events of terrorism may not be available to us or available at reasonable or acceptable rates.

Although we monitor their financial soundness, we cannot be sure that our reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all.

We purchase reinsurance by transferring (known as ceding) part of the risk that we have assumed to reinsurance companies in exchange for part of the premium we receive in connection with the risk. As of December 31, 2022, our reinsurance receivable (including from the MCCA) amounted to approximately $2.0 billion. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, it does not relieve us (the reinsured) of our liability to our policyholders. Accordingly, we bear counterparty risk with respect to our reinsurers, including risks resulting from over-concentration of exposures within the industry. Although we monitor our reinsurers and their financial condition, we cannot be sure that they will pay the reinsurance recoverables owed to us currently or in the future or that they will pay such recoverables on a timely basis. The contractual obligations under reinsurance agreements are typically with individual subsidiaries of the reinsurance group and are not typically guaranteed by other group members. In certain circumstances, with “unauthorized” reinsurers or those with lower financial strength ratings, we may require collateral equal to 100% of estimated reinsurance recoverables. The collateral can serve to mitigate credit risk. In the event of losses, we may look to “draw down” on this collateral to satisfy reinsurance recoveries due to us, but if the collateral held is insufficient to meet those recoveries, we will be exposed to losses.

Risks Related to Regulation, Mandatory Market Mechanisms and Mandatory Assessments

Our businesses are heavily regulated, and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability.

Our insurance businesses are subject to supervision and regulation by the state insurance authority in each state where we transact business. This system of supervision and regulation relates to numerous aspects of an insurance company’s business and financial condition, including limitations on the authorization of lines of business, underwriting limitations, the ability to utilize credit-based insurance scores, gender, geographic location, information publicly available (such as on social media), education, occupation, income or other factors in underwriting, the ability to terminate agents, supervisory and liability responsibilities for agents, the setting of premium rates, the requirement to write certain classes of business that we might otherwise avoid or charge different premium rates, restrictions on the ability to withdraw from certain lines of business or terminate policies or classes of policyholders, the establishment of standards of solvency, the licensing of insurers and agents, compensation of and contractual arrangements with independent agents, concentration of investments, levels of reserves, the payment of dividends, transactions with affiliates, changes of control, protection of private information of our agents, policyholders, claimants and others (which may include highly sensitive financial or medical information or other private information such as social security numbers, driving records or driver’s license numbers) and the approval of policy forms. From time to time, various states and Congress have proposed to prohibit or otherwise restrict the use of credit-based insurance scores or other risk-based pricing factors in underwriting or rating our Personal Lines business. The elimination of the use of risk-based pricing factors could cause significant disruption to our business and our confidence in our pricing and underwriting. Most insurance regulations are designed to protect the interests of policyholders rather than stockholders and other investors.

Legislative and regulatory restrictions are constantly evolving and are subject to then-current political pressures. For example, following major events, states have considered, and in some cases adopted, proposals such as homeowners’ “Bill of Rights,” restrictions on storm deductibles, additional mandatory claim handling guidelines and mandatory coverages. More recently, the California Insurance

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Commissioner restricted the ability of carriers to non-renew certain coverages in wildfire disaster areas, and the New York Department of Financial Services and regulatory agencies in other states have enacted comprehensive cybersecurity regulations and required insurers to take steps related to global climate change.

Also, the federal Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension Act mandates reporting and other requirements applicable to property and casualty insurance companies that make payments to or on behalf of claimants who are eligible for Medicare benefits. These requirements have made bodily injury claim resolutions more difficult, particularly for complex matters or for injuries requiring treatment over an extended period, and they impose significant penalties for non-compliance and reporting errors. These requirements also have increased the circumstances under which the federal government may seek to recover from insurers amounts paid to claimants in circumstances where the government had previously paid benefits.

State regulatory oversight and various proposals at the federal level, through the Federal Insurance Office or other agencies, may, in the future, adversely affect our ability to sustain adequate returns in certain lines of business or in some cases, operate lines profitably. In recent years, the state insurance regulatory framework has come under increased federal scrutiny, and certain state legislatures have considered or enacted laws that alter and, in many cases, increase state authority to regulate insurance companies and insurance holding company systems.

Our business could be negatively impacted by adverse state and federal legislation or regulation, or judicial developments, including those resulting in: decreases in rates, including for example, recent regulatory or bureau actions to mandate reduced premiums for workers’ compensation insurance; limitations on premium levels or limitations that inhibit our ability to secure timely approvals of rate filings; coverage and benefit mandates; limitations on the ability to manage care and utilization or other claim costs; requirements to write certain classes of business or in certain geographies; restrictions on underwriting, methods of compensating independent producers, or our ability to cancel or renew certain business (which negatively affects our ability to reduce concentrations of property risks); higher liability exposures for our insureds; increased assessments or higher premium or other taxes; and enhanced ability to pierce “no fault” thresholds, recover non-economic damages (such as “pain and suffering”), or pierce policy limits.

These regulations serve to protect customers and other third parties and are often heavily influenced by the then-current political environment. If we are found to have violated an applicable regulation, administrative or judicial proceedings may be initiated against us that could result in censures, fines, civil penalties (including punitive damages), the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, premium refunds or the reopening of closed claim files, among other consequences. These actions could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

In addition, we are reliant upon independent agents and brokers to market our products. Changes in regulations related to insurance agents and brokers that materially impact the profitability of the agent and broker business or that restrict the ability of agents and brokers to market and sell insurance products would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Further, as we continue to expand our business into new regions, either organically or through acquisition, we become subject to the regulations and different regulatory bodies governing such business in those locales.

From time to time, we are also involved in investigations and proceedings by federal, state, and other governmental and self-regulatory agencies. We cannot provide assurance that these investigations, proceedings and inquiries will not result in actions that would adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

We are subject to uncertainties related to Michigan PIP Reform.

Starting in 1973, the state of Michigan required all personal and commercial automobile polices issued in the state to include no-fault personal injury protection (“PIP”) coverage without a cap on maximum benefits allowed (i.e., “unlimited PIP benefits”). Insurers were required to retain a portion of the risk and the MCCA, a legislatively-created reinsurance mechanism, reinsures the portion of the risk in excess of the insurer’s mandated retention. The mandatory retention amount increases biennially at a statutory mandated rate and is currently $600,000. Premiums on Michigan automobile policies include a charge for both the insurer’s retained amount and a separately identified pass-through charge determined by the MCCA.

In response to concerns about the overall cost and affordability of automobile insurance in Michigan, the state enacted legislation in June 2019 that significantly changed no-fault and PIP systems. The legislation, effective July 2, 2020, eliminated the requirement that all insureds purchase unlimited PIP coverage and substituted instead tiered limits, ranging from zero (for those with certain health benefits meeting specified criteria) to unlimited benefits. In contrast, the minimum amounts of bodily injury coverage drivers are required to purchase increased, and we anticipate an increase in tort liability and related litigation from these changes. The legislation includes underwriting and other restrictions and mandates, in addition to subjecting rates, forms and rules to prior approval from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (“Michigan Insurance Department”) before implementation.

The legislation also imposes various cost controls, including medical fee schedules based on a multiple of Medicare reimbursement rates, and mandated PIP premium rate reductions with an eight-year premium rate freeze for the PIP component of automobile policies. The Michigan Insurance Department also enacted regulations to establish statutorily required utilization controls. The rate freeze was effective contemporaneously with the adoption of the legislation and the mandatory rate reduction was effective July 2, 2020, and the expense and utilization controls went into effect on July 1, 2021.

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In most years, MCCA operates with a deficit, which may fluctuate significantly based on investment returns, discount rates, incurred claims, annual assessments and other factors, although historically its annual operations have been cash flow positive. As of December 31, 2022, our estimated reinsurance recoverable from the MCCA was $883.0 million. This estimate is subject to change and will be revised further as the actual impacts of these cost saving measures emerge in the future, or in the event recent legal challenges to the reform ultimately prevail.

Many medical and other providers who receive reimbursement under the PIP system strenuously objected to the fee schedules, cost controls and utilization restrictions imposed by the new legislation. Since the reform legislation was adopted, we have experienced an increase in litigation from medical and other providers demanding higher reimbursements under the current system, and that litigation could increase depending on the outcome of the ongoing legal challenges. On October 3, 2019, litigation captioned Andary et. al. v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company and Citizens Insurance Company of America (a subsidiary of THG), Circuit Court for the County of Ingham, Michigan Case 19-738-CZ, was filed. The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the fee schedules, attendant care reimbursement limits, cost controls and utilization review provisions of the new legislation violate multiple provisions of the Michigan state constitution. We continue to vigorously contest plaintiffs’ claims.

For the year ending December 31, 2022, Michigan personal automobile insurance represented approximately 45% of our total personal automobile net premiums written. PIP net written premium (which does not include the MCCA pass-through assessment) represents approximately 24% of those Michigan personal automobile premiums. It is not clear at this time whether projected savings from the various cost control measures, assuming they remain in effect, will be commensurate with the required PIP reductions and rate controls. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty attributable to these changes regarding the future performance of our Michigan personal automobile lines.

We may incur financial losses resulting from our participation in shared market mechanisms, mandatory reinsurance programs and mandatory and voluntary pooling arrangements.

In most of the jurisdictions that we operate in, our insurance subsidiaries are required to participate in mandatory property and casualty shared market mechanisms, government-sponsored reinsurance programs or pooling arrangements. These arrangements are designed to provide various insurance coverages to individuals or other entities that are otherwise unable to purchase such coverage or to support the costs of uninsured motorist claims in a particular state or region. We cannot predict whether our participation in these shared market mechanisms or pooling arrangements will provide underwriting profits or losses to us. For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 our participation in these mechanisms and pooling arrangements was not significant to our underwriting results. However, our results of operations could be adversely affected in the future.

Additionally, increases in the number of participants or insureds in state-sponsored reinsurance pools, FAIR plans or other residual market mechanisms, particularly in the states of Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York, or North Carolina, combined with regulatory restrictions on the ability to adequately price, underwrite, or non-renew business, as well as new legislation, or changes in existing case law, could expose us to significant risks of increased assessments from these residual market mechanisms. There could also be a significant adverse impact as a result of losses incurred in those states due to hurricane or other high loss exposures, as well as the declining number of carriers providing coverage in those regions. We are unable to predict the likelihood or impact of such potential assessments or other actions.

We also have credit risk associated with certain mandatory reinsurance programs, such as the MCCA. See “We are subject to uncertainties related to Michigan PIP Reform,” above for more information on the MCCA.

In addition, we may be adversely affected by liabilities resulting from our previous participation in certain voluntary property and casualty assumed reinsurance pools. We have terminated our participation in virtually all property and casualty voluntary pools, but we remain subject to claims related to the periods when we participated. The property and casualty industry’s assumed reinsurance businesses have suffered substantial losses during the past several years, particularly related to environmental and asbestos exposure for property and casualty coverages, in some cases resulting from incidents alleged to have occurred decades ago. Due to the inherent volatility in these businesses, possible issues related to the enforceability of reinsurance treaties in the industry and the continuing history of increased losses, we cannot provide assurance that our current reserves are adequate or that we will not incur losses in the future. Our operating results and financial position may be adversely affected by liabilities resulting from any such claims in excess of our loss estimates. As of December 31, 2022, our gross reserves totaled $38.9 million for these legacy voluntary property and casualty assumed reinsurance pools, with the largest being the Excess Casualty Reinsurance Association (“ECRA”) pool. During 2021, we entered into a reinsurance agreement whereby we agreed to cede 100% of the ECRA business to a third-party reinsurer. The ECRA business represents approximately 88% of our 2022 gross reserves for these legacy voluntary pools.

We are subject to mandatory assessments by state guaranty funds; an increase in these assessments could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

All fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia have insurance guaranty fund laws requiring property and casualty insurance companies doing business within the state to participate in guaranty associations. These associations are organized to pay contractual obligations under insurance policies issued by impaired or insolvent insurance companies. The associations levy assessments, up to prescribed

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limits, on all member insurers in a particular state based on the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business that the impaired or insolvent insurer is engaged in. Although mandatory assessments by state guaranty funds that are used to cover losses to policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated companies can be substantially recovered over time through policyholder surcharges or a reduction in future premium taxes in many states (provided the collecting insurer continues to write business in such state), there can be no assurance that all funds will be recoupable in the future. During 2022, we had a total assessment of $4.1 million levied against us, with refunds of $1.6 million received in 2022, for a total net assessment of $2.5 million. As of December 31, 2022, we had $0.3 million of reserves related to guaranty fund assessments. In the future, these assessments may increase above levels experienced in prior years. Future increases in these assessments depend upon the rate of insolvencies of insurance companies.

We are subject to litigation risks, including risks relating to the application and interpretation of contracts, and adverse outcomes in litigation and legal proceedings could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to litigation risks, including risks relating to the application and interpretation of insurance and reinsurance contracts and our handling of claim matters (which can lead to bad faith and other forms of extra-contractual liability), and are routinely involved in litigation that challenges specific terms and language incorporated into property and casualty contracts, such as claims reimbursements, covered perils and exclusion clauses, among others, or the interpretation or administration of such contracts, including with respect to Pandemic-related litigation. We are also involved in legal actions that do not arise in the ordinary course of business, some of which assert claims for substantial amounts. Adverse outcomes could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Agency Distribution and Growth Strategies

Our profitability could be adversely affected by our relationships with our agencies.

Substantially all of our products are distributed through independent agents and brokers who have the principal relationships with policyholders. Agents and brokers generally own the “renewal rights,” and thus our business model is dependent on our relationships with, and the success of, the agents and brokers with whom we do business.

We periodically review the agencies, including managing general agencies, with whom we do business to identify those that do not meet our profitability standards or are not aligned with our business objectives. Following these periodic reviews, we may restrict such agencies’ access to certain types of policies or terminate our relationship with them, subject to applicable contractual and regulatory requirements that limit our ability to terminate agents or require us to renew policies. Even through the utilization of these measures, we may not achieve the desired results.

Because we rely on independent agents as our sales channel, any deterioration in the relationships with our independent agents or failure to provide competitive compensation to our independent agents could lead agents to place more premium with other carriers and less premium with us. In addition, we could be adversely affected if the agencies with whom we do business, including managing general agencies, exceed the authority that we have given them, fail to transfer collected premium to us or breach the obligations that they owe to us. Although we routinely monitor our agency relationships, such actions could expose us to liability.

Also, if agency consolidation continues at its current pace or increases in the future and more agencies are consolidated into larger agencies or managing general agencies, our sales channel could be materially affected in a number of ways, including loss of market access or market share in certain geographic areas if an acquirer is not one of our appointed agencies, loss of agency talent as the people most knowledgeable about our products and with whom we have developed strong working relationships exit the business following a disposition of an agency, increases in our commission costs as larger agencies acquire more negotiating leverage over their fees, and interference with the core agency business of selling insurance due to integration or distraction. Any such disruption that materially affects our sales channel could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

As the speed of digitization accelerates, we are subject to risks associated with both our agents’ and our ability to keep pace. In an increasingly digital world, agents who cannot provide a digital or technology-driven experience risk losing customers who demand such an experience, and such customers may choose to utilize more technology-driven agents or abandon the independent agency channel altogether. Additionally, if we are not able to keep pace with competitors’ digital offerings, we may not be able to meet the demand from our agents or their customers, which could lead to a loss of customers, agents or both.

We may not be able to grow as quickly or as profitably as we intend, which is important to our current strategy.

Over the past several years, we have made, and our current plans are to continue to make, significant investments in our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines of businesses, in order to, among other things, strengthen our product offerings and service capabilities, expand into new geographic areas, improve technology and our operating models, build expertise in our personnel, and expand our distribution capabilities, with the ultimate goal of achieving significant, sustained growth. The ability to achieve significant profitable premium growth in order to earn adequate returns on such investments and expenses, and to grow further without proportionate increases in expenses, is an important part of our current strategy. There can be no assurance that we will be successful at profitably growing our business, or that we will not alter our current strategy due to changes in our markets, economic conditions or an inability to successfully maintain acceptable margins on new or existing business or for other reasons, including general economic conditions, because of the Pandemic or otherwise, in which case premiums written and earned, operating income and net book value could be adversely affected.

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We may be affected by disruptions caused by the introduction of new products, related technology changes, and new operating models in our Core Commercial, Specialty, and Personal Lines businesses, and future acquisitions, and expansion into new geographic areas.

There are increased underwriting risks associated with premium growth and the introduction of new products or programs in our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines businesses. Additionally, there are increased underwriting risks associated with the appointment of new agencies and managing general agencies and with the expansion into new geographical areas.

The introduction of new Core Commercial products and the development of new niche and specialty lines presents new risks. Certain new Specialty products may present longer “tail” risks and increased volatility in profitability. Our expansion into new jurisdictions presents additional underwriting risks since the regulatory, geographic, natural risk, legal environment, demographic, business, economic and other characteristics of these states present different challenges from those in the states where we historically have conducted business. In addition, our agency relationships in these new geographies are not as developed.

Our Personal Lines production and earnings may be unfavorably affected by the continued introduction of new products, expanded risk appetites and our focus on account business (i.e., policyholders who have both automobile and homeowner insurance with us) that we believe, despite pricing discounts, will ultimately be more profitable business. We may also experience adverse selection, which occurs when insureds purchase our products because of underpricing, operational difficulties or implementation impediments with independent agents or the inability to grow new markets after the introduction of new products or the appointment of new agents.

As we enter new states or regions or grow our business, there can be no assurance that we will not experience higher loss trends than anticipated.

Risks Related to Technology, Data Security and Privacy

We may experience difficulties with technology, implementing new technologies, data security and/or outsourcing relationships, which could have a negative impact on our ability to conduct our business.

We use computer systems to store, retrieve, evaluate and utilize customer and company data and information. Our computer, information technology and telecommunications systems, in turn, interface with and rely upon third-party systems, including cloud-based data storage. Our business is highly dependent on our ability and the ability of certain third parties, to access these systems to perform necessary business functions, including, without limitation, providing insurance quotes, processing premium payments, making changes to existing policies, filing and paying claims, providing customer support and managing investment portfolios. Systems attacks, failures or outages could compromise our ability to perform these functions in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to conduct business and hurt our relationships with our business partners and customers. In the event of a disaster such as a natural catastrophe, epidemic or pandemic, an industrial accident, a blackout, a computer virus, a cybersecurity attack or intrusion, a terrorist attack or war, or interference from solar flares, our systems or the external systems that we rely on may be inaccessible to our employees, customers or business partners for an extended period of time. Even if our employees are able to report to work, they may be unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time if our data or the systems that we rely on are disabled or destroyed or if our disaster recovery plans are inadequate or suffer from unforeseen consequences. These same risks are ones that our critical third-party vendors may face, and if those vendors are adversely impacted, then our operations could be harmed. This could result in a materially adverse effect on our business results and liquidity.

We increasingly rely on technological and data-driven solutions to operate our business. If we are slow to adapt to, roll out or implement new technologies, particularly those systems, platforms and applications that leverage data and analytics capabilities, it could materially affect our ability to meet the expectations of our customers or compete with more technologically adept competitors, particularly those with greater resources to devote to new technologies or technological enhancements.

In addition, we may increase our reliance upon third-party vendors to access data or to provide or support technology, data storage and business process functions in the future. If we do not effectively develop, implement and monitor our outsourcing and third-party risk management strategies, third-party providers do not perform as anticipated, or we or they experience technological or other problems with a migration or in operations, we may not realize productivity improvements or cost efficiencies and may experience operational difficulties, liabilities for breaches of confidential information, increased costs and a loss of business. Our outsourcing of certain technology, data storage and business process functions to third parties may expose us to enhanced risk related to data security, which could result in monetary and reputational damages. In addition, our ability to receive services from third-party providers outside of the United States might be impacted by global differences in social and cultural expectations, political instability, or substantially different, conflicting or onerous regulatory requirements or policies, which could impact our operational effectiveness. As a result, our ability to conduct our business might be adversely affected.

Data security incidents, including, but not limited to, those resulting from a malicious cybersecurity attack on us or our business partners and service providers, or intrusions into our systems or data sources could disrupt or otherwise negatively impact our business.

Our systems and the systems that we rely on, like others in the financial services industry, are vulnerable to cybersecurity risks, and we are subject to disruption and other adverse effects caused by such activities. Large corporations such as ours are subject to daily attacks

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on their systems and other vulnerabilities to data security incidents. These attacks and incidents have included, or may in the future include: unauthorized access, viruses, malware or other malicious code, ransomware, deceptive social engineering campaigns (also known as “phishing” or “spoofing”), loss or theft of assets, employee errors or malfeasance, third-party errors or malfeasance, as well as system failures and other security events. Threat actors who design and commit such attacks may have various goals, from seeking confidential information or the misdirection of payments, to holding systems for ransom, or causing operational disruption. The effects of these activities could result in material disruptions to our operations, financial loss or material damage to our reputation. Like other companies, we have from time to time experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, security events and data intrusion, and while none of these events to date have had a material adverse effect on our business, no assurances can be made that such attacks or security events will not have a material adverse effect on our business in the future. As the breadth, frequency, and complexity of cybersecurity attacks and other data security events become more prevalent and the methods used to perpetrate them evolve, we may be required to devote additional personnel, or financial or systems resources, to protect our Company and invest in additional resources to support our data security program. From time to time we have had to, and in the future we may need to, increase or expend resources to investigate or remediate vulnerabilities as a result of data security incidents. Such resources are costly in time and expense, and detract from resources spent on or are otherwise devoted to our core operations. In addition, depending on the nature of an incident, we may not be able to detect an incident readily, assess its severity or impact, or appropriately respond in a timely manner, which could increase our risk and exposures.

The third parties with whom we work are also subject to these same risks, and we are vulnerable if a cybersecurity attack or other data security incident impacts a third-party vendor or service provider. Such an event could threaten to disrupt our business if the third party’s operations are compromised, or provide attackers an opportunity to exploit that compromise to pivot and attack our systems through the technical and operational relationships that we have with our trusted business partners. While we implement measures to protect against such events (e.g., utilizing secure transmission capabilities with third-party vendors and others with whom we do business when possible), including a formal review and assessment of our third-party providers’ cybersecurity controls, as appropriate, and modifications to our business processes to manage these risks, we cannot assure that our efforts will always be successful.

Any failure to protect the confidentiality of customer information could adversely affect our reputation or expose us to fines, penalties or litigation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are required to safeguard the confidential personal information of our customers and applicants. We are subject to an increasing number of federal, state, local and international laws and regulations regarding privacy and data security, as well as contractual commitments. These laws and regulations are rapidly evolving, complex, vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes conflict. In the absence of updated, uniform federal privacy legislation, there is a growing trend in the states in which we operate, to adopt comprehensive privacy legislation that provides consumers with various privacy rights and imposes significant compliance burdens on covered companies. Failure to comply with data security or privacy laws or regulations could subject us to regulatory enforcement actions and fines, penalties, litigation, private rights of action or public statements against us by consumer advocacy groups or others if confidential customer information is misappropriated from our computer systems, those of our vendors or others with whom we do business, or otherwise. Despite the security measures that may be in place, any such systems may be vulnerable to the types of attacks and security incidents described above. Any well-publicized compromise of security could deter people from entering into transactions that involve transmitting confidential information, impart reputational or other harm, and/or have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, privacy legislation may make our business partners more reluctant to share information with us that is useful in conducting our business.

Risks Related to Competition and Competitors in the Property and Casualty Insurance Market

Intense competition could negatively affect our ability to maintain or increase our profitability, particularly in light of the various competitive, financial, strategic, technological, structural, informational and resource advantages that our competitors have.

We compete, and will continue to compete, with a large number of companies, including international, national and regional insurers, specialty insurance companies, underwriting agencies and financial services institutions. We also compete with mutual insurance companies, reciprocal and exchange companies that may not have shareholders and may have different profitability targets than publicly or privately owned companies. In recent years, there has been substantial consolidation and convergence among companies in the financial services industry, resulting in increased competition from large, well-capitalized financial services firms. Many of our competitors have greater financial, technical, technological, and operating resources than we do, greater access to data analytics or “big data,” and may be able to offer a wider range of, or more sophisticated, core commercial, specialty and personal line products. Some of our competitors also have different marketing, advertising and sales strategies than we do and market and sell their products to consumers directly. In addition, competition in the U.S. property and casualty insurance market has intensified over the past several years. This competition has had, and may continue to have, an adverse impact on our revenues and profitability.

The industry and we are challenged by changing practices caused by the Internet, application-based programs relying on algorithms and computer modeling to underwrite policies and administer claims, and the increased usage of real time comparative rating tools and claims management processes, which have led to greater competition in the insurance business in general, particularly on the basis of price and pressure to reduce coverages to compete on price and to respond to customer requests as quickly as possible.

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We also face heightened competition resulting from the entry of new competitors and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors. Recent entries into the property and casualty marketplace by large technology companies, retail companies, so-called “Insurtech” companies and other non-traditional insurance providers, who aim to leverage their information about technology and direct access to customers, without the burden of legacy systems, access and ability to manipulate “big data,” artificial intelligence, speed in responding to customer requests or other developing opportunities, may increase competition. Increased competition could make it difficult for us to obtain new or retain existing customers. It could also result in increasing our service, administrative, policy acquisition or general expenses as we seek to distinguish our products and services from those of our competitors. In addition, our administrative, technology and management information systems’ expenditures could increase substantially as we try to maintain or improve our competitive position or keep up with evolving technology in order to deliver the same or similar customer or agency experience as those offered by our competitors.

We compete for business not just on the basis of price, but also on the basis of product coverages, reputation, financial strength, quality of service (including claims adjustment service), experience and breadth of product offering. We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to maintain a competitive position in the markets where we operate, or that we will be able to expand our operations into new markets.

Risks Related to Financial Strength and Debt Ratings

We are rated by several rating agencies, and downgrades to our ratings could adversely affect our operations.

Our ratings are important in establishing our competitive position and marketing the products of our insurance companies to our agents and customers. Rating information is broadly disseminated and generally used throughout the industry. Many policyholders, particularly larger commercial customers, will not purchase, and many agents will not distribute, products of insurers that do not meet certain financial strength ratings.

Our insurance company subsidiaries are rated by A.M. Best, Moody’s, and S&P Global. These ratings reflect the rating agency’s opinion of our insurance subsidiaries’ financial strength, operating performance, position in the marketplace, risk management, and ability to meet their obligations to policyholders. These ratings are not evaluations directed to investors, and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold our securities. Our ratings are subject to periodic review by the rating agencies, and we cannot guarantee the continued retention or improvement of our current ratings. This is particularly true given that rating agencies may change their criteria or increase capital requirements for various rating levels.

A downgrade in one or more of our or any of our subsidiaries’ claims-paying ratings could negatively impact our business and competitive position, particularly in lines where customers require us to maintain minimum ratings. Additionally, a downgrade in one or more of our debt ratings could adversely impact our ability to access the capital markets and other sources of funds, increase the cost of current credit facilities, and/or adversely affect pricing of new debt that we may seek in the capital markets in the future. Our ability to raise capital in the equity markets could also be adversely affected.

Negative changes in our level of statutory surplus could adversely affect our ratings and profitability.

The capacity for an insurance company’s growth in premiums is in part a function of its statutory surplus. Maintaining appropriate levels of statutory surplus, as measured by state insurance regulators, is considered important by state insurance regulatory authorities and by rating agencies. As our business grows, or due to other factors, regulators may require that additional capital be retained or contributed to increase the level of statutory surplus. Failure to maintain certain levels of statutory surplus could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, action by state regulatory authorities or a downgrade by private rating agencies. Surplus in our insurance company subsidiaries is affected by, among other things, results of operations and investment gains, losses, impairments, and dividends from each of those companies to its parent company. A number of these factors affecting our level of statutory surplus are, in turn, influenced by factors that are out of our control, including the frequency and severity of catastrophes, changes in policyholder behavior, changes in rating agency models and economic factors, such as changes in equity markets, credit markets or interest rates.

The NAIC uses a system for assessing the adequacy of statutory capital for property and casualty insurers. The system, known as risk-based capital, is in addition to the states’ fixed dollar minimum capital and other requirements. The system is based on risk-based formulas that apply prescribed factors to the various risk elements in an insurer’s business and investments to report a minimum capital requirement proportional to the amount of risk assumed by the insurer. Any failure to maintain appropriate levels of statutory surplus would have an adverse impact on our ability to maintain or grow our business.

Risks Related to Discontinued Operations

We could be subject to additional losses related to the sales of our discontinued FAFLIC and variable life insurance and annuity businesses and our former Chaucer business.

On January 2, 2009, we sold our remaining life insurance subsidiary, FAFLIC, to Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company (“Commonwealth Annuity”). Coincident with the sale transaction, Hanover Insurance and FAFLIC entered into a reinsurance contract whereby Hanover Insurance assumed FAFLIC’s discontinued accident and health insurance business. We previously owned Commonwealth Annuity, but sold it in 2005 in conjunction with our disposal of our variable life insurance and annuity business. In connection with these transactions, we have agreed to indemnify Commonwealth Annuity for certain contingent liabilities, including litigation and other regulatory matters.

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On December 28, 2018, we sold the majority of our Chaucer business (specifically our U.K.-based Lloyd’s entities) to China Re, with the rest of the Chaucer sale completed in April 2019. In connection with these transactions, we made certain representations and warranties and agreed to indemnify China Re for certain pre-sale contingent liabilities, including tax and litigation matters.

We cannot provide assurance as to what the costs of any indemnifications will be when they ultimately settle.

We may incur financial losses related to our discontinued assumed accident and health reinsurance pools and arrangements.

We previously participated, through FAFLIC, in approximately 40 assumed accident and health reinsurance pools and arrangements. The business was retained in the sale of FAFLIC and assumed by Hanover Insurance through a reinsurance agreement. In 1999, prior to the sale of FAFLIC to Commonwealth Annuity, FAFLIC had ceased writing new premiums in this business, subject to certain contractual obligations. We are currently monitoring and managing the run-off of our related participation in the 22 pools with remaining liabilities. See “Item 1 – Business – Discontinued Operations,” for information on the processes and risks associated with reserves established for these businesses.

Our long-term care pool accounts for the majority of our remaining accident and health reinsurance pool business. The potential risk and exposure of our long-term care pool is based upon expected estimated claims and payment patterns, using assumptions for, among other things, morbidity, lapses, future premium rates, the impact of policy inflation protection riders, and the interest rate used for discounting the future projected cash flows. The long-term exposure of this pool depends upon how our actual experience compares with these future cash flow projection assumptions. If any of our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, our reserves may be inadequate, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Based on the information provided by the pool managers, we believe that the recorded reserves related to this business are appropriate. However, due to the inherent volatility in this business and the reporting lag of losses that tend to develop over time and which ultimately affect excess covers, as well as uncertainty surrounding both future claim expenses and with future premium rate levels for certain of these businesses, there can be no assurance that current reserves are adequate or that we will not have additional losses in the future.

Risks Related to Investments, Capital Markets and Economic Conditions

Other market fluctuations and general economic, market and political conditions may also negatively affect our business, profitability, investment portfolio, and the market value of our common stock.

It is difficult to predict the impact of a challenging economic environment on our business. In our Core Commercial and Specialty lines, a difficult economy in the past has resulted in reductions in demand for insurance products and services since there are more companies ceasing to do business and there are fewer business start-ups, particularly as businesses are affected by a decline in overall consumer and business spending, and also in lines of business where premium levels may be dependent upon payroll volumes and/or employment levels. Additionally, claims frequency could increase as policyholders submit and pursue claims more aggressively than in the past, fraud incidences may increase, or we may experience higher incidents of abandoned properties or poorer maintenance, which may also result in more claims activity. We have experienced higher workers’ compensation claims as injured employees take longer to return to work, increased surety losses as construction companies experience financial pressures and higher retroactive premium returns as audit results reflect lower payrolls. Our business could also be affected by an ensuing consolidation of independent insurance agencies. Our ability to increase pricing has been impacted as agents and policyholders have been more price sensitive, customers shop for policies more frequently or aggressively, utilize comparative rating models or, in Personal Lines in particular, turn to direct sales channels rather than independent agents. We have experienced decreased new business premium levels, retention and renewal rates, and renewal premiums. Specifically, in Personal Lines, policyholders may reduce coverages or change deductibles to reduce premiums, experience declining home values, or be subject to increased foreclosures, and policyholders may retain older or less expensive automobiles and purchase or insure fewer ancillary items such as boats, trailers and motor homes for which we provide coverages. Additionally, if as a result of a difficult economic environment, drivers continue to eliminate automobile insurance coverage or to reduce their bodily injury limit, we may be exposed to more uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage losses. Conversely, favorable economic conditions may also impact our business and results of operations.

At December 31, 2022, we held approximately $8.8 billion of investment assets in categories such as fixed maturities, equity securities, other investments, and cash and short-term investments. Our investments are primarily concentrated in the domestic market. Our investment returns, and thus our profitability, statutory surplus and shareholders’ equity, may be adversely affected from time to time by conditions affecting our specific investments and, more generally, by bond, stock, real estate and other market fluctuations and general economic, market and political conditions, including the impact of the Pandemic, changing government policies, including monetary policies, and geopolitical risks (which may include the impact of terrorism in various parts of the world or pandemic events). These broader market conditions are out of our control. Our ability to make a profit on insurance products depends in significant part on the returns on investments supporting our obligations under these products, and the value of specific investments may fluctuate substantially depending on the foregoing conditions. We may use a variety of strategies to hedge our exposure to interest and currency rates and other market risks. However, hedging strategies are not always available and carry certain credit risks, and our hedging could be ineffective. Moreover, increased government regulation of certain derivative transactions used to hedge certain market risks has served to prevent (or otherwise substantially increase the cost associated with) hedging such risks.

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Additionally, the aggregate performance of our investment portfolio depends, to a significant extent, on the ability of our investment managers to select and manage appropriate investments. As a result, we are also exposed to operational and compliance risks, which may include, but are not limited to, a failure to follow our investment guidelines, technological and staffing deficiencies and inadequate disaster recovery plans. The failure of these investment managers to perform their services in a manner consistent with our expectations and investment objectives could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.

Debt securities comprise a material portion of our investment portfolio. Although we have an investment strategy that provides for asset diversification, the concentration of our investment portfolio in any one type of investment, industry or geography could have a disproportionately adverse effect on our investment portfolio. The issuers of debt securities, as well as borrowers under the loans we make, customers, trading counterparties, counterparties under swaps and other derivative contracts, banks which have commitments under our various borrowing arrangements, and reinsurers, may be affected by declining market conditions or credit weaknesses. These parties may default on their obligations to us due to lack of liquidity, downturns in the economy or real estate values, operational failure, bankruptcy or other reasons. Future increases in interest rates could result in increased defaults as borrowers are unable to pay the additional borrowing costs on variable rate securities or obtain refinancing. We cannot provide assurance that impairment charges will not be necessary in the future. In addition, evaluation of available-for-sale securities for credit-related impairment losses includes inherent uncertainty and subjective determinations. We cannot be certain that such impairments are adequate as of any stated date. Our ability to fulfill our debt and other obligations could be adversely affected by the default of third parties on their obligations owed to us.

Deterioration in the global financial markets may adversely affect our investment portfolio and have a related impact on our other comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and overall investment performance. Recent economic activity has slowed, although growth continues at a moderate rate, and monetary policies in developed economies currently remain accommodative. However, the effects of geo-political developments and conditions in global financial markets could change rapidly in ways that we cannot anticipate, resulting in additional realized and unrealized losses.

Market conditions also affect the value of assets under our employee pension plans, including our qualified defined benefit plan. The expense or benefit related to this plan results from several factors, including, but not limited to, changes in the market value of plan assets, interest rates, regulatory requirements or judicial interpretation of benefits. At December 31, 2022, our plan assets included approximately 90% of fixed maturities and 10% of equity securities and other assets. Additionally, our qualified plan assets exceeded liabilities by approximately $9.8 million at December 31, 2022. Declines in the market value of plan assets and lower interest rates from levels at December 31, 2022, among other factors, could impact our funding estimates and negatively affect our results of operations. Deterioration in market conditions and differences between our assumptions and actual occurrences and behaviors, could result in a need to fund more into the qualified plan to maintain an appropriate funding level.

Additional uncertainties, which could affect our business prospects and investments include the current U.S. political environment, which is characterized by potentially sharp policy differences that may affect all aspects of the economy.

We may experience unrealized losses on our investments, especially during a period of heightened volatility, or if assumptions related to our investment valuations are changed, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Our investment portfolio and shareholders’ equity can be, and in the past have been, significantly impacted by changes in the market values of our securities. U.S. and global financial markets and economies remain uncertain, particularly in light of lingering economic effects of the Pandemic, inflationary pressures and potential recessionary impacts on the economy. Market uncertainty could result in unrealized and realized losses in future periods, and adversely affect the liquidity of our investments, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and our financial position. Information with respect to interest rate sensitivity is included in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Valuation of financial instruments (i.e., Level 1, 2, or 3) include methodologies, estimates, assumptions and judgments that are inherently subjective and open to different interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations or the ability to receive such valuations on sale. During periods of market disruption, it may be difficult to value certain of our securities if trading becomes less frequent and/or market data becomes less observable. In addition, in times of financial market disruption, certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data may become illiquid. In those cases, the valuation process includes inputs that are less observable and require more subjectivity and judgment by management. Changes in these subjective methodologies, estimates, assumptions and judgments used to value our investments could also materially affect the valuation of certain investments.

If, following such declines, we are unable to hold our investment assets until they recover in value, or if such asset value never recovers, we would incur impairment losses that would be recognized as realized losses in our results of operations, reduce net income and earnings per share and adversely affect our liquidity and capital position. Impairment determinations, like valuations, are also subjective, and changes to the methodologies, estimates, assumptions and judgments used to determine impairments may affect the timing and amount of impairment losses recognized in our results of operations. Temporary declines in the market value of fixed maturities are recorded as unrealized losses, which do not affect net income and earnings per share, but reduce other comprehensive income, which is reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We cannot provide assurance that we will not have additional impairment losses and/or unrealized or realized investment losses in the future.

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We invest a portion of our portfolio in common stocks, preferred stocks, and limited partnerships. The value of these assets fluctuates with the equity markets. Particularly in times of economic weakness, the market value and liquidity of these assets may decline, and may impact net income, capital and cash flows.

We are exposed to significant capital market risks related to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, and equity prices, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

We are exposed to significant capital market risks related to changes in interest rates, credit spreads, and equity prices. Significant declines in equity prices, changes in interest rates, and changes in credit spreads each could have a material adverse effect on our results, financial position or cash flows. Our exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to the market price and cash flow variability associated with changes in interest rates. Our investment portfolio contains interest rate sensitive instruments, such as fixed income securities, which may be adversely affected by changes in interest rates from governmental monetary policies, domestic and international economic and political conditions and other factors beyond our control. A rise in market yields would reduce the fair value of our investment portfolio, but it provides the opportunity to earn higher rates of return on funds reinvested. A decline in interest rates, on the other hand, would increase the fair value of our investment portfolio, but we would earn lower rates of return on reinvested assets. We may be forced to liquidate investments prior to maturity at a loss in order to cover liabilities, and such liquidation could be accelerated in the event of significant loss events, such as catastrophes. Although we take measures to manage the economic risks of investing in a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to mitigate the interest rate risk of our assets relative to our liabilities.

Our investment portfolio is invested primarily in high quality, investment-grade fixed income securities. However, we also invest in non-investment-grade high yield fixed income securities and limited partnerships. These securities, which pay a higher rate of interest, also have a higher degree of credit or default risk. These securities may also be less liquid in times of economic weakness or market disruptions. Additionally, reported values of our investments do not necessarily reflect the lowest current market price for the asset, and if we require significant amounts of cash on short notice, we may have difficulty selling our investments in a timely manner, be forced to sell them for less than we otherwise would have been able to realize, or both. While we have procedures to monitor the credit risk and liquidity of our invested assets, we expect from time to time, and particularly in periods of economic weakness, to experience default losses in our portfolio. This would result in a corresponding reduction of net income, capital and cash flows.

Inflationary pressures may negatively impact expenses, reserves and the value of investments.

Inflationary pressures in the U.S., as a result of the Pandemic, or otherwise, with respect to medical and health care, automobile repair and construction costs, as well as social inflation of litigation costs, jury awards and settlement expectations, all of which are significant components of our indemnity liabilities under policies we issue to our customers, and which could also impact the adequacy of reserves we have set aside for prior accident years, may have a negative effect on our results of operations. Inflationary pressures also cause or contribute to, or are the result of, increases in interest rates, which would reduce the fair value of our investment portfolio.

Risks Related to Capital, Liquidity and Cash Flow

We are a holding company and rely on our insurance company subsidiaries for cash flow; we may not be able to receive dividends from our subsidiaries in needed amounts and may be required to provide capital to support their operations.

We are a holding company for a group of insurance companies, and our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of these subsidiaries. Our ability to make required interest payments on our debt, as well as our ability to pay operating expenses and pay dividends to shareholders, depends upon the receipt of sufficient funds from our subsidiaries. The payment of dividends by our insurance company subsidiaries is subject to regulatory restrictions and will depend on the surplus and future earnings of these subsidiaries, as well as these regulatory restrictions. We are required to notify insurance regulators prior to paying any dividends from our insurance subsidiaries, and pre-approval is required with respect to “extraordinary dividends.”

Because of the regulatory limitations on the payment of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries, we may not always be able to receive dividends from these subsidiaries at times and in amounts necessary to meet our debt and other obligations, or to pay dividends to our shareholders. The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us in an amount sufficient to meet our debt interest and funding obligations would have a material adverse effect on us. These regulatory dividend restrictions also impede our ability to transfer cash and other capital resources among our subsidiaries. Similarly, our insurance subsidiaries may require capital from the holding company to support their operations.

Our dependence on our insurance subsidiaries for cash flow, and their potential need for capital support, exposes us to the risk of changes in their ability to generate sufficient cash inflows from new or existing customers, from inadequate investment returns, or from increased cash outflows. Cash outflows may result from claims activity and expense payments. Because of the nature of our business, claims activity can arise suddenly and in amounts which could outstrip our capital or liquidity resources (particularly in the event of a large catastrophe loss). Reductions in cash flow or capital demands from our subsidiaries could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

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We may require additional capital or credit in the future, which may not be available or only available on unfavorable terms.

We monitor our capital adequacy on a regular basis. Our future capital and liquidity requirements depend on many factors, including premiums written, loss reserves and claim payments, investment portfolio composition and risk exposures, the availability of letters and lines of credit, and maturing outstanding debt, as well as regulatory and rating agency capital requirements. In addition, our capital strength can affect our ratings.

To the extent that our existing capital is insufficient or unavailable to fund our future operating requirements and/or cover claim losses, we may need to raise additional funds through financings or limit our growth. Any equity or debt financing, if available, may be on terms that are unfavorable to us. In the case of equity financings, dilution to our shareholders could result and, in any case, such securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges that are senior to our common stock. If we are not able to obtain additional capital as necessary, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Residual Risks Related to the Pandemic

The residual impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and related general economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Circumstances relating to the Pandemic have been unprecedented in scope and impact, continue to evolve, and are complex and uncertain. We are still monitoring and assessing the potential future impacts of the Pandemic on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Prolonged supply chain disruptions, inflation, potential recessionary impacts or other difficulties caused by the Pandemic could perpetuate more costly or lengthy claims resolutions. These changes may materially and adversely affect our ability to profitably grow our business or maintain premium levels over loss costs, particularly if these conditions exist for a significant amount of time. Also, it may be more difficult or costly to obtain reinsurance for certain types of coverages or at retention levels appropriate for our business mix.

As a result of the Pandemic and related and subsequent economic conditions, our investment portfolio has become volatile. The severity and length of the inflationary environment may continue to have a negative impact on our investment portfolio, liquidity and capital position, of which the impact could be material.

While we believe that our in-force Core Commercial and Specialty policies in large part do not cover business interruption losses related to the Pandemic, legislation has been discussed and introduced in various states and in the U.S. Congress to retroactively amend insurance contracts to provide business interruption coverage, to impose presumptions on insurance policy interpretation, and/or limit policy exclusions for losses allegedly related to the Pandemic. While we believe that many of those proposals, including retroactive legislation changing the terms of an insurance contract, would be unconstitutional and otherwise violative of well-established law, if such changes were to be enacted and upheld, we would be exposed to a significant unfunded liability. On the Federal level, there is also uncertainty around legislation to address insurance coverages for pandemics prospectively. State regulators may also continue to impose premium refund orders similar to those issued to date that call for premium refunds or credits across multiple lines of business, including our Core Commercial, Specialty and Personal Lines, mandate rate reductions for lines such as personal automobile and commercial automobile coverages due to a decrease in claims frequency, and/or mandate additional presumptions of compensability in workers’ compensation coverages. The uncertainties related to these various legislative and regulatory matters, and the potential that other such uncertainties will arise in the post-Pandemic period, could adversely impact our ability to sustain adequate returns in certain lines of business or in some cases operate lines profitably.

General Risk Factors

If we are unable to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel, or if we experience the loss or retirement of key executives or other key employees, particularly those experienced in the property and casualty industry, we may not be able to compete effectively, and our operations could be impacted significantly.

Errors or omissions, misconduct or fraud in connection with the administration of any of our insurance or investment management operations may cause our business and profitability to be negatively impacted.

Changes in current accounting practices and future pronouncements may require us to incur considerable additional compliance expenses, to retroactively apply new requirements, or to make financial restatements.

Failure to design, implement or maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on financial statements, financial reporting, investor confidence, our business and stock price.

Our stock price is influenced by our financial performance, industry trends and sentiment and other larger macro-economic factors described above in risk factors related to investments, capital markets and economic conditions that are out of our control. These factors could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, become volatile, and there is no guarantee that it will remain at or exceed current or historical levels.

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ITEM 1B–UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2–PROPERTIES

We conduct our business operations primarily in our company-owned facilities in Worcester, Massachusetts and Howell, Michigan. We also lease offices throughout the United States for branch sales, underwriting and claims processing functions, and the operations of acquired subsidiaries.

We believe our facilities are adequate for our present needs in all material respects.

ITEM 3–LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company has been named a defendant in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In addition, the Company is involved, from time to time, in examinations, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies. The potential outcome of any such action or regulatory proceedings in which the Company has been named a defendant or the subject of an inquiry, examination or investigation, and its ultimate liability, if any, from such action or regulatory proceedings, is difficult to predict at this time. The ultimate resolutions of such proceedings are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, although they could have a material effect on the results of operations for a particular quarterly or annual period.

ITEM 4–MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5–MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDER OWNERSHIP

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “THG.” On February 21, 2023, we had approximately 14,183 shareholders of record and 35,604,942 shares of common stock outstanding. On the same date, the trading price of our common stock was $141.88 per share.

DIVIDENDS

We currently expect that quarterly cash dividends, comparable to the $0.81 per share dividend we paid in the fourth quarter of 2022, will continue to be paid in the future; however, the payment of future quarterly or special dividends on our common stock will be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time based upon cash available at our holding company, our results of operations and financial condition and such other factors as the Board of Directors considers relevant.

Dividends to shareholders may be funded from dividends paid to us from our subsidiaries. Dividends from insurance subsidiaries are subject to restrictions imposed by state insurance laws and regulations. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Note 11 – “Dividend Restrictions” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program which provides for aggregate repurchases of our common stock of up to $1.3 billion. Under the repurchase authorization, we may repurchase, from time to time, common stock in amounts, at prices and at such times as we deem appropriate, subject to market conditions and other considerations. Repurchases may be executed using open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated repurchase programs or other transactions. We are not required to purchase any specific number of shares or to make purchases by any certain date under this program. During 2022, we repurchased approximately 0.2 million shares, at an aggregate cost of $30.8 million. As of December 31, 2022, we had repurchased 7.9 million shares under this $1.3 billion program and had approximately $330 million available for additional repurchases.

Shares purchased in the fourth quarter of 2022 were as follows:

ITEM 6–[RESERVED]

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0ITEM 7–MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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INTRODUCTION

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to assist readers in understanding the consolidated results of operations and financial condition of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“THG”). Consolidated results of operations and financial condition are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnotes included elsewhere herein.

Results of operations include the accounts of The Hanover Insurance Company (“Hanover Insurance”) and Citizens Insurance Company of America (“Citizens”), our principal property and casualty companies, and certain other insurance and non-insurance subsidiaries. Our results of operations also include the results of our discontinued operations, consisting primarily of our former accident and health insurance business.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Business operations consist of four operating segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other.

Our strategy, which focuses on the independent agency distribution channel, supports THG’s commitment to our select independent agents. It is designed to generate profitable growth by leveraging the strengths of our distribution approach, including expansion of our agency footprint in underpenetrated geographies, as warranted. As part of that strategy, we have increased our capabilities in specialty markets and made investments designed to develop growth solutions for our agency distribution channel and meet the needs of our customers. Our goal is to grow responsibly in all of our businesses, while managing volatility.

Net income was $116.0 million in 2022, compared to $418.7 million in 2021, a decrease of $302.7 million, primarily due to changes in the fair value of equity securities and lower operating income.

Operating income before interest expense and income taxes (a non-GAAP financial measure; see also “Results of Operations – Consolidated – Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) was $285.1 million in 2022 compared to $432.3 million in 2021, a decrease of $147.2 million. This decrease was primarily due to higher current accident year losses and lower net favorable development on prior years' loss reserves, partially offset by earned premium growth. The higher current accident year losses were primarily due to higher severity, as a result of inflation and supply chain disruptions, and increased accident frequency in our personal automobile line. In addition, losses in our homeowners line have increased due to higher severity.

Pre-tax catastrophe losses were $402.6 million in 2022 and 2021. Included in 2022 were $165.0 million of pre-tax catastrophe losses related to Winter Storm Elliott, which occurred in the fourth quarter. Net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves was $20.6 million in 2022, compared to $56.1 million in 2021, a decrease of $35.5 million.

Due to persistent supply chain disruptions emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic (“Pandemic”), and significant inflation in the U.S economy, among other factors outside our control, we are experiencing substantially higher claims costs, particularly in our automobile and homeowners lines of business. Additionally, several other Pandemic uncertainties persist, including evolving driving patterns and court caseload backlogs. Although we are taking actions to address our higher claims costs, such elevated costs may affect the property and casualty insurance industry, our business, and our financial results over future periods. (See “Contingencies and Regulatory Matters” and “Item 1A – Risk Factors” for further discussion).

Core Commercial

Core Commercial is divided into two distinct businesses, small commercial and middle market, both of which focus on account business, including commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation and other (monoline general liability, ancillary professional, commercial umbrella, and monoline property). Small commercial focuses on small businesses, with annual policy premiums generally up to $50,000. Small commercial recently launched TAP sales, a quoting platform that has enhanced the ease of doing business, and generated approximately an 18% increase in new business submissions in 2022 compared to 2021. Middle market provides coverage to mid-sized businesses with annual policy premiums generally between $50,000 and $500,000. Middle market offers coverage in distinct industry segments, including technology, manufacturing, human services, retail, real estate, and others. We believe that our account-focused approach to the small commercial market and distinctiveness in the middle market, including our diversified portfolio of products, delivers significant value to agents and policyholders. We continue to pursue our core strategy of developing strong relationships with retail agents, enhanced franchise value through selective distribution, distinctive products and coverages, and through continued investment in industry segmentation. Net premiums written increased 7.2% in 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily driven by pricing and exposure increases.

Underwriting results decreased in 2022, primarily due to higher catastrophe losses. The competitive nature of the Core Commercial market requires us to be highly disciplined in our underwriting process to ensure that we write business at acceptable margins, and we continue to seek rate increases across many lines of business.

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Specialty

Specialty offers a comprehensive suite of products focused predominately on small to mid-sized businesses. This includes numerous specialized product areas that are organized into four distinct divisions – Professional and Executive Lines, Specialty Property and Casualty (“Specialty P&C”), Marine, and Surety and Other. We believe that this distribution of Specialty products, primarily through retail agents supplemented by select specialists helps to enhance our overall agent value and increase growth opportunities by providing agents easier access to placement solutions for Specialty needs, including those that complement Core Commercial accounts. Net premiums written increased 11.2% in 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to pricing, new business and exposure increases.

Underwriting results increased in 2022, primarily due to lower catastrophe losses, earned premium growth, and lower current accident year losses. The competitive nature of the Specialty market requires us to be highly disciplined in our underwriting process to ensure that we write business at acceptable margins, and we continue to seek rate increases across many lines of business.

Personal Lines

Personal Lines focuses on working with high quality, value-oriented agencies that deliver consultative selling to customers and stress the importance of account rounding, which is the conversion of single policy customers to accounts with multiple policies and/or additional coverages, to address customers’ broader objectives. Approximately 88% of our policies in force have been issued to customers with multiple policies and/or coverages with us. We are focused on seeking profitable growth opportunities, building a distinctive position in the market in order to meet our customers’ needs and diversifying geographically. We continue to seek appropriate rate increases that meet or exceed underlying loss cost trends, subject to regulatory and competitive considerations.

Net premiums written increased 11.1% in 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to renewal price increases across the year and, to a lesser extent, higher new business. Underwriting results decreased in 2022, primarily due to higher current accident year losses in our personal automobile and homeowners lines.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATING SEGMENTS

Primary business operations include insurance products and services currently provided through four operating segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines and Other. Core Commercial includes commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers’ compensation, and other commercial lines coverages provided to small and mid-sized businesses. Specialty includes four divisions of business: Professional and Executive Lines, Specialty P&C, Marine, and Surety and Other. Specialty P&C includes coverages such as program business (providing commercial insurance to markets with specialized coverage or risk management needs related to groups of similar businesses), specialty industrial and commercial property, excess and surplus lines and specialty general liability coverage. Personal Lines includes personal automobile, homeowners and other personal coverages, such as umbrella. Included in the “Other” segment are Opus Investment Management, Inc., which markets investment management services to institutions, pension funds, and other organizations; earnings on holding company assets; holding company and other expenses, including certain costs associated with retirement benefits due to our former life insurance employees and agents; and our run-off voluntary assumed property and casualty pools and run-off direct asbestos and environmental businesses. During the first quarter of 2022, we disaggregated our former Commercial Lines segment into Core Commercial and Specialty segments. Prior periods reflect this new presentation. This presentation is consistent with the manner in which our chief operating decision maker evaluates results in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

We report interest expense on debt separately from the earnings of our operating segments. This consists primarily of interest on our senior and subordinated debentures.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – CONSOLIDATED

2022 Compared to 2021

Consolidated net income was $116.0 million in 2022, compared to $418.7 million in 2021, a decrease of $302.7 million. The year over year comparison of consolidated net income reflects a decrease in after-tax net realized and unrealized investment losses of $184.4 million, primarily related to changes in the fair value of equity securities as well as lower operating income. Operating income before interest expense and income taxes was $285.1 million in 2022 compared to $432.3 million in 2021, a decrease of $147.2 million. This decrease was primarily due to higher current accident year losses and lower net favorable development on prior years' loss reserves, partially offset by earned premium growth. Pre-tax catastrophe losses were $402.6 million in 2022 and 2021. Included in 2022 were $165.0 million of pre-tax catastrophe losses related to Winter Storm Elliott, which occurred in the fourth quarter.

2021 Compared to 2020

Consolidated net income was $418.7 million in 2021, compared to $358.7 million in 2020, an increase of $60.0 million. The year over year comparison of consolidated net income reflects an increase in after-tax net realized and unrealized investment gains of $88.5 million, principally related to changes in the fair value of equity securities. This was partially offset by a decrease in operating income before interest expense and income taxes of $52.4 million. The decrease in operating income before interest expense and income taxes was primarily due to higher catastrophe losses and increased Personal Lines non-catastrophe current accident year losses, partially offset by higher net investment income, earned premium growth, and net favorable development on prior years’ loss reserves.

The following table reflects operating income (loss) before interest expense and income taxes for each operating segment and a reconciliation to consolidated net income from operating income before interest expense and income taxes (a non-GAAP measure).

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to consolidated net income, discussed above, we assess our financial performance based upon pre-tax “operating income,” and we assess the operating performance of each of our four operating segments based upon the pre-tax operating income (loss) generated by each segment. As reflected in the table above, operating income before interest expense and income taxes excludes interest expense on debt and certain other items, which we believe are not indicative of our core operations, such as net realized and unrealized investment gains and losses. Such gains and losses are excluded since they are determined by interest rates, financial markets and the timing of sales. Also, operating income before interest expense and income taxes excludes net gains and losses on disposals of businesses, gains and losses related to the repayment of debt, discontinued operations, costs to acquire businesses, restructuring costs, the cumulative effect of accounting changes and certain other items. Although the items excluded from operating income before interest expense and income taxes are important components in understanding and assessing our overall financial performance, we believe a discussion of operating income before interest expense and income taxes enhances an investor’s understanding of our results of operations by highlighting net income attributable to the core operations of the business. However, operating income before interest expense and income taxes, which is a non-GAAP measure, should not be construed as a substitute for income before income taxes or income from continuing operations, and operating income should not be construed as a substitute for net income.

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Catastrophe losses and prior years’ reserve development are significant components in understanding and assessing the financial performance of our business. Management reviews and evaluates catastrophes and prior years’ reserve development separately from the other components of earnings. References to “current accident year underwriting results” exclude prior accident year reserve development and may also be presented “excluding catastrophes.” Prior years’ reserve development and catastrophes are not predictable as to timing or the amount that will affect the results of our operations and have an effect on each year’s operating and net income. Management believes that providing certain financial metrics and trends excluding the effects of catastrophes and prior years’ reserve development helps investors to understand the variability in periodic earnings and to evaluate the underlying performance of our operations. Discussion of catastrophe losses in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes development on prior years’ catastrophe reserves and, unless otherwise indicated, such development is excluded from discussions of prior year loss and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") reserve development.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - SEGMENTS

The following is our discussion and analysis of the results of operations by business segment. The operating results are presented before interest expense, income taxes and other items which management believes are not indicative of our core operations, including realized gains and losses, as well as unrealized gains and losses on equity securities, and the results of discontinued operations.

The following table summarizes the results of operations for the periods indicated: